Armenia to have best gas price in CIS: Natural Resources Minister

Armenia will have ‘the best natural gas price’ in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), energy and natural resources minister Armen Movsisyan told reporters after the Cabinet session today, ARKA reports.

He said the government will announce the new, upwardly revised price after the end of talks with Russia's Gazprom.  He denied allegations that the negotiations finished long ago and the gas price is not being announced because of the presidential election.

Reports in some Armenian newspapers said that the price of gas supplied to Armenia by Russia will increase from 1 April 2013 to $240 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $180. They alleged that a related agreement had been signed and will be announced only after the presidential elections in Armenia, which will be held on February 18.

The Russian-Armenian company ArmRosGazporm (ARG) is Armenia’s national gas operator dealing with importing and distributing Russian natural gas coming  from Russia via Georgia. It was established in 1997. Russian Gazprom holds more than 80 percent in it, the rest is owned by the Armenian government.

Adapted from: Vestnik Kavkaza