Armenian-Russian gas company to build segment of pipe from Iran

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
11 Mar 05

Yerevan, 11 March: The ArmRosGazprom [Armenian-Russian gas industry]
joint venture between Russia and Armenia has won a tender for the
construction of the Armenian segment of a gas pipeline from Iran
to Armenia, ArmRosGazprom General Director Karen Karapetyan said in
Yerevan on Friday [11 March].

ArmRosGazprom transports and distributes natural gas in Armenia. The
Armenian government and Russia’s Gazprom gas giant have 45 per cent
interest in the joint venture each, while the ITERA international
company has 10 per cent.

The pipeline, whose construction will start in late March – early
April, will supply gas only to Armenia. It will not have capacities
for gas transit. Iran will supply natural gas in exchange for Armenia’s
electricity.

“If Iran and Ukraine agree to lay a transit gas pipeline across
Armenia, we will certainly take part in the project,” Karapetyan said.

“Armenia will have exclusive positions in the regional energy system
if it has an alternative gas pipeline from Iran, an underground gas
storage facility and excess of electricity,” he said.