Armenia’s government presents gas price rise as `great achievement’

Armenia’s government presents gas price rise as `great achievement’ –
opposition MP

14:41 – 24.05.13

Armenia’s ex-premier, MP from the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
party Hrant Bargaryan is not surprised that, after announcing a 67%
rise in the gas price, Armenia’s government announced an 18% rise `due
to the negotiations’.

In fact, however, he forecasts a 48% rise.

`They are raising the gas price by 24 drams and the electric energy
price from 30 to 38 drams only to present it as a great achievement,’
Bagratyan told Tert.am.

`From now on, Armenian consumers will pay 156 drams for a cubic meter,
with the government to add 37 drams more. So the retail gas price will
be raised from 132 up to 193 drams,’ Bagratyan said.

`The president stated that the economic growth was not to be less than
7%, did not he? But they have approved a document envisaging five to
seven percent growth,’ he said.

With respect to the expected energy price rise, he said that it is
likely to cause a fare rise.

Bagratyan compared the price for Russian gas in effect for Armenia and
Ukraine. Russia sells gas to Ukraine at a higher price than to
Armenia, while the retail gas price in Ukraine is lower than that in
Armenia.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress