RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS TRANSIT TO ARMENIA

RIA Novosti
11:3707/10/2009

YEREVAN, October 7 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia has resumed transit of
Russian natural gas to Armenia after a break for pipeline repairs,
a spokesman for the Armenian gas pipeline operator ArmRosgazprom said
on Wednesday.

Natural gas transit was halted last Thursday and resumed on Tuesday
evening, the spokesman said.

Georgia earlier announced that gas transit to Russia would be
suspended on October 1-5 due to repairs and maintenance work on
the North Caucasus-South Caucasus trunk pipeline to prepare for the
winter season.

During the repairs, Armenia used natural gas from an underground
storage facility, the spokesman said.

Armenian-Russian joint gas venture ArmRosgazprom has a monopoly on
Russian gas supplies and distribution in Armenia.

Russian energy giant Gazprom controls 75.55% in the joint venture,
the Armenian government holds a 20% stake, and Russia’s Itera company
another 4.44%