RUSSIAN GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA HALTED BECAUSE OF LANDSLIDE IN GEORGIA

ARKA
Apr 29, 2010

YEREVAN, April 29, /ARKA/. Russian gas supplies to Armenia have
been halted April 29 because of a landslide in Kazbegi region,
Georgia, a press officer for Armenia’s gas operator, Armrosgazporm
(ARG) Shushan Sardarian said. She said a crash crew has been sent
from Tbilisi to the area to fix the problem as soon as possible. She
quoted a representative of Georgian national gas company as saying
that the repair will take 3 days.

Armrosgazprom said the breakdown will not affect home gas consumption
as it has enough gas in its Abovian underground storage facility to
meet the demand for several weeks.

ARG is the only company dealing with import and distribution of
Russian natural gas coming to Armenia from Russia via Georgia. It
was established in 1997. Russian Gazprom holds 80 percent in it, the
rest is owned by Armenian government. As of March 1 the underground
facility had 118 million cubic meters of gas stored.