The gas tariff issue cannot last for long: Vice-PM

The issue of gas tariff includes many components, vice prime minister Mher Grigoryan stated today.

“You do not even imagine how many components were discussed and will be discussed. In the mentioned context I would not like to form expectations, as a huge work is to be done,” Mher Girgoryan said, stressing that it is not clear yet whether the gas tariff will change or not.

As to the claims of Russian experts that from 2020 the gas prices in Armenia will go up, Grigoryan said, “I have not seen any fundamental reasons for such conclusions.”

As to how long the gas tariff remain unchanged on the account of Gazprom company’s savings, Mher Grigoryan stated that the issue cannot be delayed for good, but the maintenance of gas tariff on the account of efficiency is one of the scenarios that is of temporary nature.

As to buying more affordable gas from Iran and manifestation of political will, the deputy PM said that Armenia’s steps must be agreed with the interests of counterparts and in this issue there should be no hesitation. As to the technical and price components the issue must be settled at the negotiations.

The vice PM also said that in the near future a task group will come from Russia’s Gazprom to discuss the issue of tariff component.