Pashinyan: Armenia to diversify gas supply sources

Armenia will continue its policy of diversifying gas supply sources, regardless of possible changes in the price of natural gas, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

Pashinyan said at a press briefing that if there is an opportunity to obtain gas from a second or third source, Armenia will pursue that path, while a possible gas pipeline within the framework of the TRIPP project could also provide transit revenue to the country.

“Gas is not cheap in Armenia. From the border to the consumer, compared to other countries, the largest increase in price formation takes place in Armenia,” Pashinyan said in response to a question about the impact of the additional burden on citizens in the event of a possible increase in gas prices.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that Gazprom Armenia is a profitable company.

“I want to say that Gazprom Armenia is a profitable company. That company makes large profits. And this is also a fact that we need to record,” he noted.

According to Pashinyan, the government will pursue a diversification policy not only in gas but also in other sectors.

“There is no sector in which we will not pursue diversification. There is no such sector. And our political decision is that we will develop our independence, we will develop our statehood. The rest are current issues, and specific situations may have specific responses,” the Prime Minister said.

Addressing the government’s steps in the event of a possible price increase, Pashinyan noted that decisions will depend on the specific situation.

“If such situations arise—prices increase—we will also see what we can increase in price, or what there is that has been free until now, after which a price may proportionately emerge. So we are treating this normally; it should and can be discussed in a normal working atmosphere,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that regardless of further developments in gas prices, the government will try to expand supply possibilities.

“We will diversify, regardless of everything. Whether it becomes more expensive or not, whatever happens, we will diversify. If there is an opportunity to bring gas from a second source, we will pursue that path. If there is an opportunity to bring it from a third source, we will pursue that path,” Pashinyan declared.

In this context, he also addressed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” or TRIPP, project.

“If there is an opportunity for a gas pipeline to pass through Armenia via TRIPP, through which we will also receive transit fees, we can pursue that path as well. We envision what we need to do under all possible scenarios,” the Prime Minister concluded.

The issue of a possible increase in gas prices became more prominent after Civil Contract faction MP Taguhi Ghazaryan, responding to journalists’ questions on September 8, said that an increase in gas prices should not be presented “as the end of the world” and said that, if necessary, Armenia could consume gas at a higher price, while citizens “will have both gas and the money for gas.”