New energy and natural resources minister promises to find best possible solutions to sector’s challenges
Speaking to reporters after today’s Cabinet session the newly appointed energy and natural resources minister Levon Yolyan asked for some time for looking deeper into the sector’s problems and only then take their questions, promising also to find the best possible solutions to the sector’s challenges.
"The energy sector is a strategic sector. The problems are many and serious and in order to answer your questions I need time to explore the sector and try to find appropriate solutions," he said.
He said he did not plan any changes in the structure of the ministry. With regard to electricity tariffs, he said as a citizen and as a minister he would very much like to have affordable electricity prices. He also said negotiations on the reduction of Russian gas price for Armenia continued.
Asked how he was going to combine running a business and his ministerial duties Yolyan said:
"In 1994-1998 I lived in Moscow, and after accumulation of capital I invested it in Armenia. Particularly, together with a few colleagues we opened the first Samsung shop in Armenia in 1996, which operated until recently."
He stressed that he personally was not engaged in that business that was run by his wife. According to him, the Samsung stores in Yerevan and Gyumri had been among the 100 largest taxpayers, but in recent years there were some problems and the stores had to be shut down.
Yolyan replaced former minister Yervand Zakharyan February 29, who held it since May 2014. Before his new position Yolyan served as deputy chairman of the Oversight Chamber of Armenia. -- 0-