Gas import records decrease, and consumption—growth

“Gazprom Armenia” issued indices for natural gas import and consumption in the period of 2016. According to the report 1864.6 mln m³ natural gas has been imported from Russia to Armenia in 2016. The previous year—2015, 2000 mln m³ was imported. Thus, import volumes from Russia have decreased by more than 136 million m³ or by 6.8%.

It’s noteworthy that volumes of consumed gas in internal distribution system, just the contrary, have increased by 24.2 mln m³ or 1.3%.

Moreover, in the period of January-September 2016 compared with the same period of the previous year, sales volumes have also reduced by about 8%. This means that the growth has been recorded in the period of the 4^th quarter.

Figures allow calculate growth for the 4^th quarter as well. Thus, only in the 4^th quarter of 2016 726.7 mln m³ gas was sold towards 605.8 mln m³ of the same period of 2015. Thus, gas consumption has increased by 20% by the end of the year.

This may be conditioned by cold winter conditions. Gas consumption statistics is introduced every quarter, however, it may be supposed that main growth was shared by December.

An indirect edifice to that is the fact, that in 2016 gas consumption volumes of inhabitants have increased by more than 10%, and decreased in companies and gas filling stations in the field of industry and energy.

It should also be stated that in 2016 gas consumption volumes in the fields of energy and industry comprised respectively 420 mln m³ and 173.1 mln m³.

With the same logic it may be anticipated that gas consumption volume in January 2017 will be larger, which will lead to the quarter growth. Not only cold weather conditions, but also the fact, that from 1 January 2017 lower tariffs of gas have been imposed, will contribute to this.