July 17, 2001 - 23:45 AMT
"GAZPROM" CONFIRMS ITS REFUSAL OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT OF LAYING "IRAN-AMENIA" GAS PIPELINE
"Gazprom" insists on its statement on refusal of participation in the project of laying "Iran-Armenia" gas pipeline in spite of Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Ruben Shugarian's recent statement that this decision of the Russian gas giant may be revocable. Today Press Secretary of "Gazprom" Igor Ivantsov stated this to the correspondent of CNA agency. Let us remind that according to preliminary information, corresponding Armenian and Iranian structures and "Gazprom" Russian company, French "Gaze de Frans", "ITERA" international group of companies and gas corporation of Greece were also expected to take part in the project of construction of "Iran-Armenia" gas pipeline. The first stage of the project envisages construction of 100-kilometer long gas pipeline through the territory of Iran and 41-kilometer long pipeline through the territory of Armenia. This will let Armenia receive 1.5 million cubic meters of gas daily. The project is expected to cost 124 million dollars, and the tentative capacity according to the project is 1 milliard cubic meters annually. It is planned to raise it up to 5 milliard cubic meters.