Russia to lift 30% customs duty for gas supplies to Armenia

Russia to lift 30% customs duty for gas supplies to Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan dispelled the public’s doubts over the deal on Russian gas price hike for Armenia.

The stir rose following Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s statement that no price increase agreement actually exists.

Earlier, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition party’s parliamentary group secretary Aram Manukyan expressed discontent over inability to procure the text of the gas agreement.

As Movsisyan noted, commenting on the above, Manukyan was given the copy of the agreement, as instructed by Prime Minister, ARKA reported.

Also, Russia is ready to lift a 30 percent customs duty on export of natural gas to Armenia, Movsisyan said.

Currently Armenia pays $270 for one thousand cubic meters of Russian gas supplied to the country across Georgia. Of that amount $189 dollars is the price of gas, and the rest is the 30% customs duty.

"We have done quite a lot of work with the Russian side. After the September 3 announcement on Armenia’s joining the Russia-led Customs Union, the gas delivery contract between the two governments will be revised and simplified. This means the Russian side will not apply customs duty on gas exports to Armenia. We hope that a revised contract will be signed before the end of this year," Movsisyan said.

According to the minister, the price of gas for Armenia will be the same as in Russia plus transportation costs.

However, Movsisyan said this will not affect the price for local consumers. “Our calculations show that the revised contract will not entail a price rise or price drop,” he added.

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