Thursday, 4 February 2016
Prime Minister: “It is obvious that gas price reduction is both necessary and feasible”
A regular Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
Before proceeding to the agenda, the Premier said, “Domestic manufacturers need such energy tariffs as may help boost their competitiveness on foreign markets. We are eager to see that in its capacity of a lifeline utility infrastructure, Gazprom Armenia could be a stable and reasonably profitable enterprise, while in the meantime, the proposed tariffs should be affordable and profitable for the economy and the population, in general.
The decline in gas consumption is a clear indication that the company might have higher receipts with lower prices. I think that the leadership of Gazprom-Armenia has a lot to do in terms of introducing the reasons behind such a business policy to the population and the management of the company, which may foster understanding both in Gazprom and the Russian Federation of the mutually beneficial nature of our proposal. I believe that given the global economic and geopolitical developments, it is obvious that gas price reduction is both necessary and feasible.”
With reference to the Government Staff-hosted consultative meeting of this February 2, which discussed the findings of an Audit Chamber-conducted study in the local social service (LSS) agencies of Kotayk and Aragatsotn Marzes of Armenia, the Prime Minister said he could not accept those ill-grounded excuses voiced at the meeting.
The Head of Government instructed Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations Armen Yeritsyan to take up the matter with the governors concerned and dismiss those officials in neglect of duty. Welcoming the Audit Chamber’s decision to carry out similar inspections nationwide, the Premier stressed that equity and justice should be ensured in this area as well.
Head of State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition Artak Shaboyan reported back the findings of a research conducted by the SCPEC on the home diesel fuel and gasoline market trends, according to which gasoline prices dropped in 2015.
The meeting approved the memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Grange Power Ltd regarding the construction and commissioning of a new 234 MW-strong combined-cycle thermal plant in the vicinity of Vanadzor town of Lori Marz. The Company shall build a power plant at its own expense within 30 months of the signing of the agreement.
The Government adopted a number of decisions in support of economic operators. In particular, Samt Holding LLC was granted the status of operator in Meridian free economic zone, the immovable property located at Ghandilyan Street in Gyumri was allowed to be alienated through direct sales to Sasstex LLC, which will make a Euro 2,293,400-worth investment in textiles production.
The Executive approved the 2016 cultivation program for barley, sweet clover and honey-lotus and issued a permit for the use of financial resources.
To partly meet the local market demand in seeds, the Government decided to get from abroad 1457 tons of first-production spring barley and 188 tons of sweet clover, as well as to purchase from Gyumri Selection Station CJSC 100 tons of spring barley elite seeds, which will be made available in accordance with the provisions of the program.
