IRAN WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPLY MORE NATURAL GAS TO ARMENIA – UNION OF EMPLOYERS
May 17, 2013 | 14:17
YEREVAN. – Armenia can receive a larger volume of natural gas from
Iran, but this is a political matter.
Chairman Gagik Makaryan of the Republican Union of Employers of
Armenia said the abovementioned during a press conference on Friday.
In his view, Iran would be happy to increase the amount of gas supply
to Armenia because Iran has difficulties due to the economic sanctions
that are imposed upon the country. Thus, the Iranian gas could become
for Armenia an alternative to the gas which Gazprom Company supplies.
As per Makaryan, the current reviewing of the price of the Russian
natural gas is partially because of the ArmRusGazprom Company’s
excessive costliness, high salaries, 30-35 percent profitability,
and, in general, by its “super elite” nature.
Reflecting on the Armenian government’s pledge to subsidize the
imminent increase in the price of the Russian natural gas being
supplied to Armenia, Gagik Makaryan asked a rhetorical question:
“At whose expense will the subsidy be implemented?” In line with his
calculations, if the gas price increases, $40-50 million additional
taxes will be collected for the budget, but the government directs a
small fraction of this amount to providing assistance to social groups.
Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
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