United Press International
Sept 12 2008

Work on Iran-Armenia pipeline concludes

YEREVAN, Armenia, Sept. 12

Construction on a natural gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia to
transport 81 billion cubic feet of gas has been concluded, Armenian
energy officials said Friday.

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said the pipeline is
important to secure energy supplies for his country, noting testing
would commence in the coming days, Trend Capital News said.

"The opening of the Iranian-Armenian pipeline will guarantee the
energy safety of Armenia," he said. "Armenia will receive from 2.3
billion to 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Tehran through this
pipeline a year."

Movsisyan added the Armenian government was entering into trilateral
talks with Iran and Russia on the construction of an oil refinery and
examinations of a new oil pipeline.

The planned $2.5 billion Armenian refinery would have the capacity to
produce around 50 million barrels of oil per year.