Over 5000 documents were studied before selling the 20% of ArmRusgasprom CJSC's 20% share to Russia. The statement came from Vardan Ayzavyan, member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, the head of the Parliamentary ad hoc committee to study gas supply to Armenia, Tuesday.
Speaking in the Parliament, Ayvazyan said Armenia's deal with Russian's Gazprom was legal. The committee met 55 times and discussed every document. He said that since Jan 1 2011 the gas supplier (Gazprom OJSC, represented by its subsidiary Gazprom Export LLC) was authorized to suggest changes in the price and stop gas supply if the buyer disagrees with the new price. Gas tariff for Armenia was $180 per 1000 cu m on April 1 2010. In April, 2011, it grew to $210, in the period from June 28 2012 to Jan 1 2013 - $240, and on Mar 31 2014 - $270. The accumulated debt totaled $305.4 million, Ayvazyan recalled, of which $23.8 million are the interests. "The debt is legal and has legal reasoning," he said.
The document signed on December 2, 2013 by the governments of Armenia and Russia on duty-free supplies of petroleum products, natural gas and natural uncut diamonds to Armenia became a 'curtain-raiser' to the country's accession to the Customs Union, which reduced the contract price for the natural gas from $270 to $189 per 1,000 cu m. In this light, the pricing procedures for the gas supply of Armenia are based on the current price - $189 per 1,000 cu m. The expenses on transportation of gas up to the border of Georgia and Armenia are added to it.
Gazprom Armenia CJSC (former ArmRusgasprom cjsc) is engaged in organization of natural gas supplies from Russia to Armenia. The company was founded in 1997. In addition, the company is transporting, storing, distributing and selling natural gas, reconstructing and expanding the gas transportation system and underground gas storage facilities in Armenia.