ArmInfo. No negotiations are being held with Yerevan on supply of Iranian gas to Georgia via Armenia, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Yervand Zakharyan said at a briefing in the government on January 14.
According to him, this issue was discussed at a four-sided meeting of Armenia, Russia, Iran and Georgia's Ministers of Energy, which has been recently held in Yerevan. Zakharyan noted that currently negotiations are being held between Georgia and Russian Gazprom but nothing is known about the details of the negotiations.
Touching upon Tbilisi's wish to receive money for transit of Russian gas to Armenia via its territory, he noted that such decision will not lead to any problems for Armenia. The Minister recalled that new
power unit of Yerevan Thermal power plant will be built by 2018, due to which additional supplies of Iranian gas to Armenia will be made in exchange of electricity from Armenia to Iran.
Earlier managing director of Iranian state corporation National Iranian Gas Exports Co Ali-Reza Kameli stated that Iran holds negotiations on gas supply to Georgia via Armenia. The supply may total 300-500 mln cubic ft daily, and electric power stations in Georgia will be the main consumers. At the same time Georgia's Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze stated that Tbilisi wants to change
previous agreements with Gazprom and receive money from transit of Russian gas to Armenia via its territory instead of the 10% of the gas transit.
To note, currently Armenia receives gas from Iran via gas pipe opened in 2007. Armenia pays off for gas by electric energy supplies on the basis of 3 kWh per 1 cub m of natural gas. Iran will supply 36 bln
cubic meters of gas to Armenia in 20 years with possible increase of the contract term by 5 years and overall amount of supply to 47 bln cubic meters.