“Gazprom Armenia” gives contradictory answers about the negotiations on the tariffs

The issue of the gas tariff change is still on the agenda of the government and “Gazprom Armenia”. Following Nikol Pashinyan’s announcement at the end of the year, the government announced that from the first working day of the year it will negotiate with Gazprom Armenia to curb the rise in tariffs in the country.

On January 10, 2019 during an interview with “Azatutyun”, the press service of “Gazprom Armenia” informed that discussions (negotiations) between the authorized body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the regulatory body and Gazprom Armenia CJSC will be held with the participation of interested non-governmental organizations and relevant specialists in terms of making mutually agreed decisions about the size of the company’s tariff margin to be incorporated into the gas tariff structure.

For more detailed information, Fip.am sent an inquiry to Gazprom Armenia on January 10, 2019 particularly to find out the names and numbers of non-governmental organizations participating in the discussions.

Gazprom Armenia’s response, however, contradicts the comment given to the media. The point is that the answer to the inquiry is that preliminary discussions are still taking place, in which only the Government authorized body in the field of energy, the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission and the corresponding specialists of “Gazprom Armenia” CJSC participate. After the preliminary discussions, when the positions of the parties will be clarified, the company will also hold discussions with interested NGOs. Meanwhile, the commentary to the media does not mention that the ongoing discussions are of a preliminary nature and only after that other negotiations are expected.

It is also mentioned in the response that no public organization or relevant specialist has yet expressed a desire to participate in the above-mentioned discussions.

P.S. “Gazprom Armenia” also notes in its response that the representatives of the “Union of Informed Citizens” will be invited to the discussions (negotiations) through the Company’s mediation, whereas we had not inquired for the involvement of our organization in the negotiation process.

Karine Kirakosyan