BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT, RUSSIA IS READY TO REDUCE GAS PRICE FOR ARMENIA IN 2010

ArmInfo
2009-10-20 12:20:00

ArmInfo. ArmRusgazprom CJSC is negotiating with Gazprom concerning
reduction of the gas price for Armenia in 2010, Chairman of the
Board, Director General of ArmRusgazprom CJSC Karen Karapetyan told
journalists on Tuesday.

‘Currently, we are negotiating with Gazprom. By prior arrangement,
the gas price for Armenia started April 1, 2010, will make up $180
per 1000 cub m against the earlier agreed $200. Negotiations are still
underway, however, we are elaborating our development strategy, taking
the price of $180 as a basis. This is the best price in the region’,
K. Karapetyan said.

He recalled that ArmRusgazprom CJSC was established 12 years ago, and
"Armenia had exclusive prices for gas during that period’. Over that
time, the country had to prepare for transfer to the market relations
and liberalization of the gas price, he added. K. Karapetyan denied
the information in the Russia media saying as if Russia is ready for
concessions in the gas prices provided that it is given a monopoly
in construction or management of the new power unit in Armenia.

‘Negotiations regarding the gas price have nothing in common with
NPP construction’, he said.

To recall, Armenia has been purchasing gas from Russia at $154 per
1000 cub m started April 1, 2009, against the previous $110. 2,2 cub
m of gas were supplied to Armenia from Russia in 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress