Yesterday “ArmRusgazard” (ARG) company was celebrating the 10th anniversary of its foundation. By the way, the celebration was rather big. Certainly, the company can be proud of its success. First of all, it is the first biggest taxpayer of Armenia. Notwithstanding any critics addressed to it the company has increased the level of gasification from 21% in 2001 up to 88.5%.
This is a very good success. Even deputy head of the board of Gazprom, Valery Golubev said that Gazprom is jealous with this achievement. The latter led the delegation, which had come from Armenia to congratulate the Armenians on this occasion. According to Golubev, they don’t have such level of gasification in Russia and they appreciate the achievement on the part of ARG.
They don’t only appreciate, but as it turned out they are doing a favor for our economy, which is done due to the low prices of gas ($110 per cm). Golubev said that starting from 2008 Belarus will pay $130, and in 2011 the purchase price of gas in the Russian domestic market will be about $150. Notwithstanding, the price we will have to pay for gas will stay the same till January 2009 ($110). Mr. Golubev said it was subsidy to Armenia, i.e. Gazprom is financing our economy. We wander why? “We understand that rapid increase of the gas price up to the European level will bring to collapse of the economy. Everything should be done in favor of developing the economy in consideration of its potential,” said Golubev.
Besides that, these two countries have very close relations. “Gazprom does not have so good relations with all the CIS countries. The relations between Gazprom and Armenia should be a good example for the other countries too,” said Golubev.
However, the prices cannot be the same always and they will grow in the future. The journalists asked about the possible prices to be fixed for gas after 2009, but didn’t get any answers to their questions.
As for the general director of ARG, Karen Karapetyan, he advised not to speak about the prices in advance and invited everyone to a concert organized by their company in the Republic Square.
K. Karapetyan and Golubev spoke about the future plans optimistically. In particular, Mr. Karapetyan said he believed ARG could become a key company in the entire region and place a key role both in the domestic and foreign markets. He said the reason he thought so was the deficit of energetic resources in the region. As for ARG, it is not only occupied in gas supply activities, but also in energy production. They said that after operating the 5th bloc of the Hrazdan HES, they would export energy to other countries through the territory of Iran.
Mr. Golubev said that the fact the system of suppliers had changed was a positive achievement as the small and medium businesses had grown. “ARG is developing. It is done due to the energetic situation and effective management,” said Mr. Golubev, “before the main suppliers were energy producers, but now small and medium businesses are using a significant part of the supply too. The society is using gas much too.”
In a word, they are doing their best for us. As Golubev said, their company had opened many jobs in Armenia, they are paying taxes to the budget and the economy of Armenia is growing. In other words, it doesn’t matter who the owner is and whether it is Russia, Armenia or another country.
What have we done to compensate those achievements?
We have agreed to sell the fifth bloc of Hrazdan HES and Iran-Armenia pipeline to ARG, and indirectly to Gazprom. Meantime, the transaction was made in a manner that the share of Gazprom in ARG became 57.59% instead of its 45% share before the transaction; accordingly the government’s share in it has gone down and makes 34.7%. By the way, Gazprom is planning to increase its share and make it 80% in the future.
The most interesting fact here is that at the end they could convince everyone that it was a very successful transaction despite the fact that there was time when they were actively refuting the rumors concerning giving the fifth bloc and Iran-Armenia pipeline to the Russians.
In other words, the Russians would never sell gas to us at such cheap price just due to our beautiful eyes. Market relations are more important than strategic cooperation. As for relating to our economy with good understanding… As for us, we are relating to certain things with good understanding too, for instance when we stayed in traffic congestion for hours near the Republic square we performed good understanding too. Everything is mutual.