The Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council assessed the risks of replacing Russian gas in Armenia

It will be difficult for Armenia to replace Russia in the structure of gas imports, given the larger volume of supplies and the risk of significant overpayment for foreign fuel. This was stated by Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Alexey Shevtsov, his words are quoted by TASS.

Alternative suppliers for Armenia, he noted, could be Iran and Azerbaijan. However, in both cases there are certain nuances, Shevtsov explained.

The post-Soviet republic has a barter agreement with the first country - “gas in exchange for electricity.” Under this scheme, more than 400 million cubic meters of fuel are supplied to Armenia annually. However, Iranian gas is used exclusively for electricity production and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Otherwise, Armenia risks falling under US sanctions, Shevtsov explained.

As for Azerbaijan, the historically difficult nature of bilateral relations should be taken into account, he added. In addition, to increase supplies, it is necessary to build a new gas pipeline, which will require significant investments and the conclusion of a long-term contract.