IRAN LEADER SUPPORTS IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE EXTENSION TO EUROPE

RIA Novosti
14:41 | 25/ 10/ 2007

YEREVAN, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has described plans to extend the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
to Europe as very promising.

"The possibility of extending the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Europe
is a very good scenario for us, and we will welcome the project,"
the Iranian leader said in an exclusive interview with Armenian
television, aired late on Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad, who cut short his planned two-day visit to Armenia on
Tuesday, said thorough feasibility studies should be made to extend
the project, originally designed to meet Armenian domestic needs with
Iranian natural gas.

The gas pipeline is currently being tested, the Iranian leader said.

The Armenian Energy Ministry has forecast that the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline will be commissioned by early 2009.

The first 40 km (24 miles) leg of the pipeline went on stream in March,
and the second 141 km (87 miles) leg is currently being built.

The pipeline’s cost has been estimated at between $220 million and $250
million. During the first stage, Armenia will pump some 400 million
cubic meters of gas annually with plans to increase the volume to
2.3 billion cubic meters.