ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 30, 2004 Tuesday 9:30 AM Eastern Time

Armenia, Iran to sign gas pipeline agt early April

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

The negotiations with Iran regarding the construction of a gas
pipeline to Armenia reached the final stage, Armenian Energy Minister
Armen Movsesyan said on Tuesday. The sides have already reached
accords on the main technical parameters of the pipeline.

Iranian oil and gas minister is expected to arrive in Yerevan in
early April to sign an agreement on building of a gas pipeline,
Movsesyan said.

According to the minister, the construction, due to begin later this
year, will last 20 months and to be completed in 2006. Either country
will be fully responsible for laying its stretch of the pipeline.
According to preliminary estimates, the Armenian section will cost
100 million U.S. dollars to lay, and the Iranian stretch, slightly
more.

According to the draft agreement, Iran will deliver gas to Armenia in
amounts sufficient only for the country’s domestic consumption,
Movsesyan said.

The question of extending the pipeline farther to carry Iranian gas
to Europe was not considered, contrary to allegations by some mass
media.

The gas pipeline from Iran will ensure continuous gas supply to
Armenia and enhance its energy security. So far Armenia has received
gas by the sole pipeline from Russia.