Gazprom says interested in Georgia’s pipeline privatization

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire, Russia
November 11, 2004

MOSCOW, Nov 11 (Prime-Tass) — Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom
was interested in taking part in the privatization of Georgia’s
pipeline and gas distributing companies, Sergei Kuznets, an official
with Gazprom told an industry conference Thursday.

He said that the Georgian government was currently preparing a list
of assets subject to privatization and Gazprom planned to take part
in the privatization, if the terms were acceptable to it.

“It is important for Gazprom because the gas pipeline links Russia
with Armenia,” he said.

Furthermore, Gazprom may participate in the construction of a gas
pipeline from Iran to Armenia, he said, adding that this project
envisages supplying gas from Iran to Armenian power stations in return
for Armenian electric power supplied to Iran. End