GAS TARIFFS FOR ARMENIAN POPULATION TO INCREASE BY 37,5% AND FOR INDUSTRY – BY 13% BEGINNING FROM 1 APRIL 2010

ArmInfo
2010-02-26 13:53:00

ArmInfo. The natural gas tariffs for Armenian population will grow
by 37,5% – from the present 96 thsd drams per 1000 sq.m of gas up to
132 thsd, and for the industrial gas consumers which use more than
10 thsd sq/m of gas per month – by 13% – from the present $215 for
1000 sq/m up to $243.13 including VAT beginning from 1 April 2010,
such a decision was adopted at today’s sitting of Public Services
Regulatory Commission, which has partly satisfied application of
CJSC ArmRusgasprom which had suggested to increase gas tariffs for
population up to 136 thsd drams and for industry – up to $256.

Chairman of CJSC ‘ArmRusgasprom’ board, Karen Karapetyan, said at the
briefing after the sitting that they needed revising of tariffs as it
is expected that the tariffs of the Russian gas imported to Armenia
may grow beginning from 1 April 2010, from the present $154 for 1000
sq/m up to $180. The other reasons are fluctuation of the national
currency and reduction of the volumes of gas consumption over the
past year. He also said that PSRC insisted on reduction of the number
of the company employees from the present 5500 people to 4500 and
reduction of their salary from the present 130 thsd drams per month
to 100 thsd drams. But the company decided to cover these expenses
thanks to investments of the shareholders and reduction of profit.

Chairman of the Commission for Protection Economic Competition,
Robert Nazaryan, said that raising of the gas tariff may cause certain
tension among the poor layers of population, but they are acceptable
for industry. He said that natural gas tariffs in Georgia, Turkey,
Moldova, Ukraine and other countries are higher than in Armenia.