Alexey Shevtsov: refusal of Russian gas will be more painful for Armenia than for Europe

Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Alexei Shevtsov said that the refusal of Russian gas would be more painful for Armenia than for Germany or other European countries.

As of last year, more than 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas (about 83% of all supplies) were supplied to Armenia from Russia, with 100% of this gas going to household consumers.

Gas from Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey will cost Armenia significantly more than gas from Russia, and Armenia will have to pay almost $1.58 billion more per year for gas alone at European prices.

MOSCOW, September 25 - RIA Novosti. The refusal of Russian gas will be much more painful for Armenia than for Germany or other European countries, said Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexey Shevtsov.

This is how he commented on the recent statement by Armenian Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan that Yerevan will purchase gas “from wherever possible.”

“There is no doubt that for Armenia the refusal of Russian “blue fuel” will be much more painful than for Germany or other European countries,” Shevtsov said, as quoted by the press service of the Russian Security Council.

As of last year, more than 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied from Russia - this is about 83% of all gas supplies to Armenia, Shevtsov noted.

“And, what is very important, 100% of what goes to household consumers - the population,” he added.

According to Shevtsov, gas from Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey will cost significantly more for Armenia than gas purchased from Russia on preferential terms, “largely thanks to which Armenia has been able to ensure stability and economic growth in recent years.”

At the same time, diversification of its sources will entail additional associated costs, Shevtsov added. “The arithmetic here is simple. Now the exchange price of gas in Europe is about 900 US dollars per 1 thousand cubic meters. The difference with the Russian price is 720 dollars,” Shevtsov explained.

Accordingly, Armenia will have to pay almost $1.58 billion more per year for gas itself at such prices, he clarified.

“In the context of diversification, the first thing that comes to mind is Europe, especially the former locomotive of its economy - Germany,” Shevtsov noted.

Berlin's politically motivated refusal of Russian gas has led to a fivefold increase in prices for "blue fuel" over the past 5 years, recalled the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.