V. Aivazian: Commission on gas tariff to be set up in parliament

An interim commission to examine the gas tariff formation issue will be set up in the National Assembly of Armenia, deputy of Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) faction Vardan Aivazian told reporters today.

According to him, the commission will discuss all those issues that worry the public, in particular the reason for the difference between the wholesale and retail prices of natural gas.

Another participant of the press conference, deputy of Prosperous Armenia (BHK) faction Levon Khachatrian asked why the price of gas in Georgia is by 30% lower (106 drams) than in Armenia. Vardan Aivazian replied that gas in Georgia costs 450 laris, and not 106 drams. Aivazian addressed all those who can import gas into Armenia at a lower price than the current one. In this case Armenia will buy gas at a lower value, he said.

We would remind you that on February 3 the four non-coalition factions of the Armenian parliament - ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, BHK, Armenian National Congress (HAK), and Heritage factions launched a signature collection campaign for the creation of an ad hoc parliamentary commission to consist of representatives of various political forces. The commission shall examine the accumulation of $300 million gas debt and the reason of the difference between the wholesale and retail prices of natural gas.

The parliamentary speaker Hovik Abrahamian today invited members of the four non-coalition factions of the National Assembly and presented HHK’s draft on the creation of an interim commission on the gas issue.