ARMENIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY: AT THIS MOMENT THERE IS NO NEED TO IMPORT IRANIAN GAS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 31, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The technical task on geological
survey of uranium mines in the south of Armenia will be prepared by
late 2007. The RA minister of energy Armen Movsisian told reporters
on October 31 that the studies on the potential of uranium mines will
be completed. According to him, these survey will be done by Armenian
and Russian companies.

The minister said that the drilling work for oil and gas prospecting
in Armavir marz is being continued by a Canadian company.

In his words, work is underway to increase the carrying capacity
of the operating Kajaran-Yerevan gas pipeline: earth and assembly
work on a 65-km section out of the total of 120 km has already been
completed, while the gas pipeline will be ready by the end of 2008. 350
million cubic meters of gas can currently be transported through the
gas pipeline, and this amount will reach 2.3 billion cubic meters
after increasing its capacity. The construction work is being done
by ArmRusgazprom.

A. Movsisian said that in case of necessity the Armenian side can
import gas from Iran, however, in his words, "there is no such problem
at the moment".