Russia abolishes export duties on gas for Armenia

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Armenian Ambassador to Russia Oleg Yesayan signed today the Protocol amending the Agreement between the Governments of the two countries on delivery to the Republic of Armenia of natural gas, petroleum products and rough diamonds.

The Protocol to the Agreement requires a number of changes related to the need to bring bilateral international legal framework in line with the provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of 29 May 2014. In particular, the Protocol excludes from the scope of the Agreement the trade of rough diamonds, as this issue is regulated by the general provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.

The protocol also provides for indefinite exemption from export customs duties on oil products and natural gas supplied from Russia to Armenia.

The press service of the Ministry of Energy has told RUSARMINFO that earlier the decisions on duty-free imports were made each year, and based on the current changes the oil products and gas will be duty-free delivered to Armenia until one of the parties decides to change the provision or to cancel the Agreement. The Ministry of Energy has also reported that the document won’t affect the gas price.