Gas prices are permanently rising in Armenia against the downward trends in gas tariffs is being registered worldwide, the ex-chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Bagrat Asatryan told a press conference.

According to him, Europe imports gas from Russia at U.S. $200 per cubic meter, whereas Armenia, which is much nearer, will soon purchase the fuel at the same, or even higher, price.

Asatryan pointed out that the gas is supplied to Armenia by the ArmRosgazprom Company, with 80% of its stock held by a Russian company. ArmRosgazprom purchases gas at an incentive rate and sells it to Armenian consumers at a much higher price thereby getting excess profits. Asatryan pointed out that the RA Commission for Protection of Economic Competition must either put an end to this practice or state that the Russian company is robbing the Armenian population.

Vardan Bostanjyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, said that Armenia inherited a worn out energy system from the USSR and has a gas storage problem.

“As an Armenian citizen I am glad that gas can be used in the country because we might as well have lacked it,” he said.

T.P.