Gazprom announces temporary suspension of gas supplies to Armenia

A decision arises a few days after the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinian, has criticized the prices of Russian gas and announced the search for alternatives.

“The supply of natural gas to Armenia temporarily ceases due to preventive repair work,” the company said on the Telegram platform.

Gazprom indicated that the work will be carried out on the ‘North Caucasus – South Caucasus’ pipeline from 15 to 25 this month.

“ During this period, the uninterrupted and reliable supply of gas to the Republic’s consumers will be carried out without limitations thanks to internal reserves and additional supplies of natural gas from Iran,” he concluded.

Last Friday, Pashinian denounced the high prices of Russian gas and said that regardless of the tariffs of the Russian gas consortium Gazprom, Erevan will seek to diversify suppliers.

“Gas in Armenia is not cheap,” he said in press statements, stating that Gazprom Armenia has great profits and “the increase in price from border to consumer is the highest compared to other countries.”.

The Armenian Prime Minister said that consumers in the country are unhappy, as cheap gas arrives in Armenia, but they receive it at high prices.

“ We assume this situation calmly and diversify [the economy] in any case”, stressing that if there is the possibility of receiving gas from other sources, Erevan will do so.

In particular, it did not exclude the possibility of building a pipeline under the TRIPP project (Trump Road for Peace and Prosperity) agreed with the United States and Azerbaijan, and pointed out that this would guarantee Armenia traffic revenues.

Relations between Armenia and Russia have become tense in recent years, particularly after Erevan's decision to freeze participation in the post-Soviet military alliance and the announcement that he intends to join the EU.

Russia, disturbed by this change of course, imposed trade restrictions and sanctions on many Armenian products, and demanded that Pashinian hold a referendum to allow Armenians to choose the way forward.

In particular, the Kremlin indicated that Russia could unilaterally denounce the cooperation agreement on gas, oil and diamonds between the two countries of 2013.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if bilateral relations cool down, Armenia could pay not 177 dollars (153.38 euros) for every thousand cubic metres of gas, but 600 dollars (almost 520 euros) like Europeans.

“ Discounts are always supported by someone [...] they are not something that comes out of nowhere. They are supported by Russia. It is really our contribution to the development of Armenia,” said the spokesman for the Kremlin (Russian Presidency), Dmitri Peskov, pointing out that it was up to Gazprom to take the corresponding decision.