Tuesday, August 22 2017 12:58

ArmInfo. Armenia is ready to buy Iranian gas under favorable price offer. The head of Armenian Government Karen Karapetian stated in an interview with journalists on August 21 in Tsakhkadzor.

According to Prime Minister, a the moment negotiations, as such, are not being conducted. "If the price is profitable in comparison, then - with pleasure," Karapetyan said.

To recall, the only way to supply natural gas to Armenia from Russia through the territory of Georgia is permanently becoming the subject of discussions in the context of the development of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi. However, for today, it is non-alternative, since the existing second gas pipeline from Iran is not able to provide the necessary volumes.

As it was earlier informed,Armenia is conducting negotiations to find options for gas supply to the republic. Earlier, Armenian Deputy Minister of Energy  Infrastructures and Natural Resources Hayk Harutyunyan, who headed  the Armenian delegation at the talks in Ashgabat regarding possible  gas trade, told ArmInfo that the matter concerns the best possible  ways of supplies of Turkmen gas to Armenia. It was previously  reported that Ashgabat offered Tehran to increase the current gas  swap amount for Armenia and Azerbaijan to 15 mln cu m per day. But  Harutyunyan noted that in the case of Armenia the matter concerns  smaller amounts.  The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline capacity is 6 mln cu  m per day and it is simply impossible to ensure big swap amounts. On  Jan 13, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said that the  Government of Armenia is working at various gas swap schemes. He  added that the swap transactions were discussed with the Iranian and  Turkmen ambassadors on the first day of 2017.

To recall, the natural gas supply to Armenia from Russia through the  territory of Georgia is constantly discussed in the context of  development of Moscow-Tbilisi relations.  However, today it has no  alternative, because the current second gas pipeline from Iran is  unable to ensure the necessary amount. According to ArmInfo analysts,  it is quite possible that Armenia seeks to establish swap supplies of  Turkmen gas via Iran. The matter concerns supply of Turkmen gas to  Iran, which will supply similar volumes to Armenia.