Agvan Vardanyan: Armenia should have gas alternative to Russia

 Despite the strategic relations with Russia, Armenia should have gas alternative, secretary of the ARFD parliamentary faction, Agvan Vardanyan, said at today's press-conference. When commenting on possible sale of 20% share of the Armenian government in "ArmRusgasprom" to the Russian "Gasprom", Vardanyan said actually the community is not aware of what has been happening. "Public Services Regulatory Commission has already revised the application of "ArmRusgasprom", new gas tariffs are already functioning, the government has already expressed readiness to subsidize 30% of growth of gas tariffs, but the machinery of subsidizing is not clear yet", - he said.  He also added that the gas relations between Armenia and Iran are misty. "They told us that the share of Armenia in "ArmRusgasprom" gave nothing to us. But what shall be do next time, taking into account that the contract was signed for a year? ", - he asked.

To recall, Armenia and Gazprom OJSC are negotiating on the sale of Armenian Government's 20% of ArmRusgasprom's shares to Gazprom, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said. Movsisyan said the talks also cover possible achievement of mutual arrangements on a number of other important issues for the republic.  Earlier the Armenian mass media reported that the Armenian authorities were ready to sell the 20% of Government's shares in ArmRusgasprom's capital to curb the gas price. On 1 April 2013 Gazprom raised the gas price for Armenia from 180 USD to 270 USD per 1 thsd cu m. The Armenian Government is trying to attract a grant from Russia to compensate for the gas price by 30%. 

The talks on the sale of Armenia's shares in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to Gazprom OJSC are still going on, Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told journalists on June 19.  "The talks are still going on, there is no agreement on the price of the shares yet, however, Armenia has received alternative offers from other buyers", he said. The minister added that the sale of the shares is an economic issue and it should not be connected with Armenia's possible joining the Customs Union.  When asked what the funds from the sale will be spent on, the minister stressed that they will be transferred to the state budget and then will be spent as needed. 

To note, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom Alexey Miller and Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan held a working meeting in Moscow on June 17.  The meeting covered the ain issues of development of the Russian-Armenian cooperation in the sphere of gas supply, including Gazprom's participation in the energy projects of Armenia. The sides considered the price formation for the Russian gas for Armenia's consumers. The sides also discussed the possibility of increasing Gazprom's share in ArmRusgasprom CJSC to 100%.