GAZPROM WARNS OF WINTER GAS SHORTAGE IN ARMENIA IF PIPELINE NOT REPAIRED QUICKLY

AFX News Limited
December 19, 2006 Tuesday 6:41 PM GMT

MOSCOW (AFX) – Russian gas giant Gazprom warned that Armenia could
face a gas shortage this winter if a burst pipeline in neighbouring
Georgia is not repaired quickly.

‘Armenia has not received Russian gas in the necessary volumes for
the past two days due to a burst gas pipeline on Georgian territory,’
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said in a statement.

The break in the pipeline occurred on Dec 17 for reasons still not
known to Gazprom.

‘It is obvious that if repair work drags out for an extended period
Armenia could be without gas in its underground storage tanks this
winter,’ the statement said.

‘We and our Armenian colleagues are counting on everything possible
being done quickly to restore Russian gas shipments to Armenia through
Georgian territory.’

Armenia is currently receiving one-third of its gas through an
alternative pipeline while drawing on its underground reserves to
meet the remainder of its needs, Gazprom added.