1.7 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF GAS PLANNED TO BE IMPORTED TO ARMENIA FROM RUSSIA IN 2005

PanARMENIAN.Net - 1 billion 332 million cubic meters of natural gas were imported to Armenia from Russia in 2004, reported Director General of ArmRosgazprom company Karen Karapetian. He noted that gas consumption in Armenia increased 187 million cubic meters last year, which exceeds the amount consumed in 2003 18.2%. Specifically, consumption by the population increased 44%, by industrial objects - 32%, while that of the budgetary organizations - 10.8%. In 2004 the company invested $12 million in expansion and reconstruction of the gas distribution network, which allowed raising the number of subscribers up to 270 thousand. It is planned to import 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Armenia in 2005 and to augment the investment volume next year to $14 million, while making it $16 million in 2006 and $14.6 million in 2007.