Thursday, November 15 2018 18:44

ArmInfo. The accusation against Gazprom Armenia CJSC about tax evasion on a particularly large scale is unfounded. This was announced on November 15 at a  specially convened press conference in Yerevan by the Chairman of the  Board - Director General of Gazprom Armenia CJSC Grant Tadevosyan.

He recalled that during the inspections by the State Revenue  Committee it was revealed that the volume of gas losses in the gas  transmission system of Armenia in June and July of the current year  had more than tripled compared to the volume of losses in the first  five. Meanwhile, the volumes of liquefied gas supplies to the gas  filling stations of the republic by Gazprom Armenia increased by 37%  in June-July compared with the first five months of 2018, and in  fact, a criminal case was initiated.

"It is logical that gas losses in winter are higher than in summer.  And in a similar way, the situation was not only in 2018 year, but in  2017, and in 2016 You cannot compare different seasons, different  temperatures and other factors ", Tadevosyan stressed. He explained  that 14 thousand industrial and municipal consumers in Armenia have  electronic gas correctors connected to gas meters, which, when the  gas temperature rises, keep it at 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, 700  thousand consumers have household meters that are not connected to  electronic correctors, and therefore gas volumes are calculated at  the current temperature. "From school books on physics, we know that  at low temperatures the same bemsya gas is much less than at 20  degrees. Therefore, there are additional losses. Therefore, this  cannot serve as a basis for such conclusions. And on this basis it is  incorrect to calculate millions and billions of drams, "the head of  Gazprom Armenia outlined the problem.

Moreover, he stressed that due to the communication of the CGD that  was widespread in the media, the reputation of the company that was  created in over the years. In this context, Tadevosyan said that the  current situation around the Armenian "daughter" of Gazprom had a  negative impact on the negotiations with one of the largest Russian  banks to conclude a loan agreement at favorable interest rates (6.5%  per annum), which could be sent to repay loans in Armenian banks at  higher rates (8.5% per annum).

"Gazprom, being the largest investor in the energy system,  in  2012-2018 made an investment of $ 950 million. Thus, the level of  gasification of the country was brought to 98%, the work was about 7  thousand citizens were provided. Being the largest taxpayer in  Armenia for several years in a row, at the same time regularly  receiving testimony from the "Law-abiding Taxpayer" from SRC,  yesterday it receives this kind of accusation, "he said.

It should be noted that on the eve of the SRC, being guided by the  results of the inspections carried out in CJSC Gazprom Armenia,  where, according to their statement, abuses and tax evasion on a  large scale were revealed, in accordance with Article 205 of the RA  Criminal Code, a criminal case was opened.

Recall that Gazprom Armenia CJSC is a 100% subsidiary of PJSC  Gazprom, ensuring the supply and sale of natural gas in the domestic  market of the Republic of Armenia. The Gas Transportation System  (GTS) serves 1,682.2 km of main gas pipelines and branch pipelines.  As part of the gas distribution system, today 15,116 km of high,  medium and low pressure gas pipelines and auxiliary facilities are  serviced. Gazprom Armenia is one of the leading companies in Armenia;  it occupies a leading and stable position in the system-forming  sector of the economy of the Republic of Armenia - energy.