IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO BECOME OPERATIONAL BY DECEMBER 2006

IRNA website, Tehran
31 Aug 06

Moscow, 31 August: A senior Iranian oil ministry official said
Wednesday evening [30 August] in Yerevan that Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
will become operational by year-end.

The announcement was made by Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister for
International Affairs Hadi Nezhad-Hoseynian in a meeting with Armenian
Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan.

Nezhad-Hoseynian, heading a delegation of experts from oil, energy
and foreign affairs ministries arrived in Yerevan yesterday.

According to an agreement reached between the two sides, the 160-km
gas pipeline will transfer some 36bn cubic meter of Iran’s gas to
Armenia in the next 20 years.