ArmRosgazprom not ready to comment on Gazprom statement

PanARMENIAN.Net - Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Board Andrey Kruglov said that 6% growth was recorded in volumes of gas sale by Gazprom OJSC at the internal market of Russia in January-July 2010 as compared with the same period of last year.

“As for the price situation, one can state that the government follows the approved plan on increase of gas tariffs. And we expect the stable growth in gas prices to continue,” Energo-news quoted him as saying during a conference call.

40% growth was recorded in sales in the republics of the former USSR in seven months of 2010. “The transfer to market pricing with Belarus, Moldova and Armenia is under way in 2010. Thus, we expect the gas prices to increase in this region,” said Kruglov. He reiterated that the company expects the final transfer to market pricing with these countries in 2011.

In 2009, 16.1% drop was recorded in gas recovery by Gazprom as compared with 2008, making 462.2bln of cubic meters. Meanwhile, the net income of the company grew by three times in the first quarter of 2010 – up to RUB 336.849bln against RUB110.177 last year.

According to a decision of the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, gas tariffs for Armenia’s consumers were increased by 37.5%, making AMD132 against previous AMD 96 per cubic meter from April 1, 2010. Meanwhile, the gas price for enterprises consuming over 10 000 cubic meters monthly made $243.13 against previous $215 per 1000 cubic meters.

This information caused a boom in the society, but ArmRosgazprom OJSC refrained from comments. “We are aware of Gazprom statement, but all comments should be agreed with the CEO of the company, who is in an important meeting now,” Shushan Sardaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.