Armenia Seeks Gas Independence from Russia Amid EU Ties
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to reduce the country's dependence on Russian natural gas. Speaking after a government meeting, Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia will pursue diversification in every sector of the economy, including energy.
Pashinyan pointed out that while Russia supplies Armenia with gas at $177.50 per 1,000 cubic meters, European prices exceeded $600 at the time of Putin's statement in April. He stated that the difference is significant and acknowledged disagreements over how energy prices should be calculated.
The Prime Minister also noted that Armenia has been exploring alternative transit routes, including pipelines crossing through Armenian territory, which could generate revenue from transit fees. Pashinyan said that if there are opportunities to import gas from other suppliers or collect transit fees, Armenia will pursue them.