ArmInfo. The current situation on the liquefied gas market in Armenia was caused by the closure of the Upper Lars border checkpoint, as announced by Gegham Gevorgyan, Chairman of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, during a press-briefing.
He noted that the border crossing point is already open, and vehicles have begun crossing into Armenia. "I expect that liquefied gas prices will gradually drop over within a few days," as stated by the head of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. He added that the road closure was due to weather conditions.
Gevorgyan emphasized that 196 economic entities are supplying liquefied gas to Armenia, and the market remains competitive. "There is no major player or monopoly that could artificially create a shortage," he noted. He attributed the price increase to companies, who had limited reserves, raising prices to avoid running out quickly.
Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan, for his part, stated that the market problems were caused by two factors: the situation around Iran and the closure of the Upper Lars checkpoint. He said that the road has already reopened, and the first vehicles carrying liquefied gas have arrived in Armenia in recent days.
"Dozens more vehicles are expected to arrive today and tomorrow. I believe that by Friday, or at the latest by Saturday, the country will have sufficient gas supplies to completely eliminate the shortage, and prices will begin to decline," the minister noted. When asked about the possibility of delivering liquefied gas by rail through Azerbaijan, Papoyan stated that the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) needs to make significant investments to achieve this, and work in this direction is already underway.
It should be noted that liquefied gas prices have increased by 60-70% in recent days, reaching 260-300 drams per kg.
