Regnum, Russia
April 8 2006

Iran-Armenia gas-pipeline may not be sold (Armen Movsisyan)

Yerevan, 8 April 2006 (Regnum – website) – `Construction of
Iran-Armenia gas-pipeline is still not finished, and it is not yet
subject of economy, hence, it is not a joint-stock company, and it
has no stock, which is why it may not be sold,’ stated Armenian
Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan. `I state it clear, the matter
concerns only 5th energy unit of Hrazdan TPS,’ he stressed,
commenting on OAO Gazprom’s information, published on the eve, but
corrected later, about achievement of agreement with the Armenian
government on gas prices and some other questions of energy
cooperation.

As it has been already stressed, within several hours OAO Gazprom
corrected information, already published by its Press Department, on
signing 25-years-long agreement with Armenian government, which
defined strategic principles of cooperation in gas-energy projects in
Armenian territory. In last version of news release, published in
Gazprom official web site, information, concerning Iran-Armenia
gas-pipeline, is completely excluded. In preliminary variant of news
release, sent to mass-media on April 6, it was mentioned the
agreement foresees ZAO ArmRosgazprom acquires Armenian government’s
40-kilometer-long Iran-Armenia pipeline, which is under construction
now, and 5th energy unit of Hrazdan TPS (Hrazdan-5). Also, in
accordance with the agreement, Armenian government engaged to charge
ZAO ArmRosgazprom with duties of customer to construct second section
of 197-kilometer-long Iran-Armenia pipeline. In the document’s new
version, only acquiring of Armenian government’s 5th energy unit of
Hrazdan TPS (Hrazdan-5) is mentioned.