WHAT WILL THE PRICE OF GAS BE IN 2009?

Lragir.am
12-09-2007 16:08:07

The price of gas for consumption in Russia will be 150 dollars per
1000 cu m till 2011, said the deputy chairman of Gazprom’s management
committee Valery Golubev in Yerevan on September 12 when the Armenian
reporters asked what to expect regarding the price of gas for Armenia.

Golubev like the Gazprom leadership said Armenia now buys gas for
the minimum price, lower than Belarus which will pay 130 dollars per
1000 cu m from 2008, while Armenia will continue to pay 110 dollars
for another year.

For Europe, the price of gas is above 250 dollars. Golubev said in
fact Gazprom is now subsidizing the Armenian economy by selling cheap
gas to Armenia. Meanwhile, studies show that in 2011 the price of gas
will be 150 dollars, Valery Golubev says. "Today Armenia is supplied
gas for 110 dollars. It is our understanding, our understanding of the
general economic state," Valery Golubev said. He says they understand
that a steep rise in the price of gas may strike the Armenian economy,
therefore the price should rise gradually to prepare the economy.

When the price of gas went up in 2006, Armenia and Russia signed an
agreement. Russia committed to keeping the price 110 dollars from 2006
to 2009. It is not good faith because by this agreement we gave the
fifth generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant and the Armenian
section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Russia. The reporters
asked what price Russia plans to set in 2009 when the agreement
expires. Valery Golubev beat about the bush saying they sell gas to
Armenia cheaply, they understand our economic problems, they raise
the price not only for Armenia but also the others, as well as for
the Russian consumers and did not say what the price will be in 2009.

Golubev declined to answer because it is an issue to negotiate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress