Yerevan, June 11 - Neftegaz.RU. The government of Armenia plans to begin negotiations on the price of Russian natural gas in November, Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Arthur Grigoryan told reporters of the Armenian news agency Arca after a Cabinet session.
«When discussions with the Russian side are over, and we receive concrete proposals, we will inform the public,» he said, adding that the talks will focus on the price of gas at which it is shipped to Armenia, not on the price at which it is sold to Armenian households. He said the latter issue is up to the Public Services Regulation Committee (PSRC).
Asked whether the Armenian government would negotiate purchase of gas from Iran if the Russian side raises the price of its gas for Armenia, the minister said such negotiations are possible. «If the Russian side takes such a step, everything is possible. We are interested in importing cheap gas,» Grigoryan said.
Earlier, Artur Grigoryan downplayed speculation that Armenia could buy cheaper natural gas from the neighboring Iran, saying Iran wants $165 per one thousand cubic meters, while Armenia pays $150 for the same volume, saying also that Armenia’s national gas distribution company Gazprom Armenia invests $27-28 million in the upgrading of the facility.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, in 2017 deliveries of Russian gas to Armenia increased by 7% to 1 billion and 996 million c.m. and deliveries of natural gas from Iran grew by 2.9% to 382 million and 700 thousand c.m.
The total gas consumption in Armenia in 2017 increased by 5.3%. Today, as part of gas for electricity swap deal Armenia converts the Iranian gas into electricity and ships it back to Iran.
