Armenia’s new energy safety doctrine will be adopted in Autumn

YEREVAN, June 25. /ARKA/. Armenia’s new energy safety doctrine will be adopted in autumn, the secretary of the National Security Council, Arthur Baghdasaryan, said today.

He said at its latest meeting the National Security Council had a detailed discussion of the country’s energy security problems, including Armenia’s cooperation with Russia. He said the new doctrine will include questions relating to Armenia’s relationship with Russia, Iran, Georgia and other countries in the region.

In comments on the possible sale of government’s 20% stake in the national gas distribution company ArmRosGazprom (ARG) to Russian Gazprom, Baghdasaryan said no final decision was made on the mater yet. He said the final decision will take into account Armenia’s long term and short term interests.

"In any case, 80% of the shares in ARG belong to Gazprom, Russia is the major shareholder of the company, and now we have to focus on the most effective use of our twenty percent,"  he stressed.

Earlier it was reported that Gazprom" plans to increase its stake in ArmRosgazprom to 100%.

Armenia does not produce natural gas and its energy system almost entirely relies on imported gas.  Gas is delivered to Armenia by Gazprom across Georgia. Last year it sold 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Armenia.

ArmRosGazprom was established in December 1997. It deals with the transportation, storage, distribution and sale of gas, reconstruction and expansion of the transmission system and underground gas storage facilities. -0-