ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 5 2007
‘Armrosgasprom” invests $82 mln in gas supply in 2002-2007
YEREVAN, December 5. /ARKA/. `’ArmRosgasprom” Armenian-Russian
company invested about $82mln in the period from 2002 to 2007 in
implementation of the program on restoration of gas supply and
provision of gas connections in the territory of Armenia.
This allowed increasing the level of gas supply coverage in the
country from 21% to 90% bringing Armenia to the group of leaders on
this indicator not only among CIS (Commonwealth of Independent
States) countries, but also in the world, the Press Service of
ArmRosgasprom reported adding that restoration of gas supply in the
country is one of the prioritises in the company’s activities.
As of December 1, 90% of electricity consumers (650,000 subscribers,
including 505,000 real gas supply subscribers) are potential
customers of gas distribution network of Armenia.
`’As a result, the number of subscribers-consumers of natural gas in
Armenia exceeded the indicator of Soviet times by 5% – 485,000,” the
press service of the company reported.
Currently, 455 municipal and rural communities have opportunity of
using gas; 104 of them have never had gas supply before. Fore the
first time gas supply was provided not only to a number of
residential areas in Yerevan (Davitashen, Erebuni, South-Western and
Nor Nork Massifs 7, 8, 9), but some other cities of Armenia.
The length of the existing gas distribution network increased from
9,168 kilometers in 2002 to 11,573 kilometers.
`’The gas supply program under implementation allows obtaining an
essential economic effect. According to various estimates, due to
transfer from other energy resources to gas the population’s annual
savings are about $250-300mln, and the transport sector of Armenia
saves some $180-200mln,” the press service reported.
The company almost completed the program of restoration of gas supply
of economically effective populated areas of the country. The further
gas supply program will be possible under social projects developed
and implemented by the Government of Armenia, budgets of local
governments and charity projects, the press release says.
`’ArmRosgasprom” Closed Joint Stock Company enjoys monopoly for
delivery and distribution of the Russian natural gas on Armenia’s
domestic market. The company was founded in 1997; its capital
currently totals $580mln and the shareholders are `’Gasprom” open
Joint Stock Company (57.59%), Armenia’s Ministry of Energy (34.7%)
and `’Itera” oil and gas company (7.71%). -0–