Georgian PM: control stake of Armenia-bound gas pipeline not to be sold

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri said that the Georgian government is not going to sell the control stake of the Georgian part of North-South gas pipeline, through which Russian gas is delivered to Armenia.

The gas pipeline is among strategic facilities, the management of which will be continued by the Georgian government, Gilauri told a press conference in Yerevan.

On July 6, the Georgian parliament adopted a bill on state property, which envisages abolishment of the limitation on the gas pipeline’s sale. The bill envisages withdrawal of Armenia-bound pipeline from the list of properties privatization of which is forbidden.

Earlier, the press service of the Georgian Ministry of Energy told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that the sale of shares of a range of Georgian energy companies, including 25% of North-South gas pipeline’s shares is under consideration.

Meanwhile, the plans have raised concerns in Armenia, as Azerbaijan may purchase the shares of this strategically important facility.

There were also reports in media that Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan display interest in the gas pipeline.