Zhoghovurd: Armenia can have free natural gas

11:20 * 28.03.15

The Armenian parliament’s interim committee tasked with studying the
natural gas supply system’s work has reportedly found out that the
country can potentially import the fuel free of charge from
Turkmenistan via Iran’s territory.

While the facts and figures in its recent report, set to be discussed
in the legislative’s upcoming session, reflect what the paper calls
the disconsolate situation in the sector, it has been found that
additional investments will secure an annual supply of 70 billion
cubic meters Iranian and Turkmenistani gas to a third country.

Moreover, says the paper, the supplier will have an obligation to pay
in the amount of 5% of the supply. In the case of the above mentioned
quantity, that will make 12,450 billion cubic meters per annum, notes
the paper. It says further that Armenia consumed a total of 12.450
cubic meters of the fuel in 2014. ”

“That means that Armenia can have free natural gas. So who is to blame
for the failure to take any step; what’s even worse, [the authorities]
have done all their best to make us keep purchasing gas from the
Russian Federation at such an expensive price,” writes the paper.