Armenian minister confirms steady Azerbaijani fuel shipments

Armenia is set to receive 20 railcars of Azerbaijani fuel in the coming days, Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan confirmed, corroborating Azerbaijani media reports that the first shipment of gasoline is already en route.

Speaking with journalists, Papoyan emphasized the broader goal of fostering trade over conflict, Caliber.Az reports.

“Our objective was to bring business into a space where trade, not war, prevails. War brings casualties and losses, while trade brings prosperity,” he stated.

When asked about the existence of a formal agreement with Baku for continuous fuel deliveries, Papoyan affirmed, “Of course, there is an agreement, but it will depend on future market conditions.”

Regarding the purchase price of Azerbaijani fuel by an Armenian private company, Papoyan noted that pricing is a private-sector matter in which the government does not interfere. “It is not the state’s role to intervene in pricing. Our responsibility is to establish the legal and contractual framework, create the political environment, and reach political agreements. The business sector then manages the rest, just as we do when importing fuel from Egypt or Russia,” he explained.

On the question of how the fuel will be priced on the Armenian market, Papoyan cautioned that it is too early to determine. “The prices of the first delivery are non-standard, and the next shipment may be similar. Once a more stable market situation emerges, we will be able to provide clear guidance. In the private sector, prices are determined by competition. Our role is to ensure as many participants and sources as possible, which will foster competition and could lead to lower prices.”

The minister declined to disclose which private company purchased the Azerbaijani fuel, stating, “Please submit a request; if we can provide an answer, we will.”

By Vafa Guliyeva