New Wave of Protests as Gazprom Armenia Cuts Inspectors

A new wave of protests is rising in Armenia as Gazprom Armenia begins to cut down on inspectors. The company is attempting to compensate for the $15 increase in the gas price at the border to avoid raising gas tariffs for the public within the country, writes the newspaper "Jamanak".

The media notes that the contract signed between Armenia and Gazprom expired at the end of last year. The government was in negotiations regarding the price of gas. Last year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that "Gazprom Armenia" and "Gazprom" must review the gas supply price. There will be some changes in the price, and certain increases will occur, however, due to specific internal regulations, there will be no change in gas prices for consumers in Armenia.

The newspaper reports that currently, the gas price for Armenia has risen by 10 percent, from the previous $150 to $165 per 1,000 cubic meters. It turns out that the company is maintaining unchanged tariffs for consumers at the expense of internal resources and losses. Gazprom Armenia informed "Jamanak" that discussions are ongoing regarding complex issues related to the price change of natural gas supplied to Armenia, including reviewing the number of employees and positions.

Essentially, it appears that the company has decided not to raise the gas price for consumers by cutting down on inspectors' jobs. However, experts suggest that it may even be possible to decrease the gas price through optimizing the company's costs, reducing losses, and lowering the standard of profitability. "Jamanak" learned that inspectors at Gazprom Armenia will receive notifications about their dismissal within a few days. Inspectors reported that those who will no longer serve as inspectors will receive notifications of dismissal by April 26.

The media states that inspectors will receive two months' salary until they find new employment. However, there are individuals prepared to contest their formal dismissal order in court. They argue that since the gas price at the border has risen, and the government does not allow it to increase for the public, jobs must be cut to maintain their profits. The entire "Gazprom Armenia" operation is bloated; in one office, five people sit, yet upon deeper examination, it is clear that two among them are unnecessary. Instead of reducing internal staff, they are firing us," exclaimed inspector Gevorg. As a result of the cuts, one inspector will serve 1,000 residents instead of 500. It should be noted that in this case, the workload of the inspector will increase, but the salary will remain the same.