Russian gas supplies to Armenia resumed after pipeline repair

YEREVAN/TBILISI, January 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian gas deliveries to Armenia via Georgia, suspended on January 9 for repair work to the pipeline, resumed late on Monday, a spokesman for the ArmRosgazprom joint venture said on Tuesday.

"Repair work to the pipeline has been completed, and gas supplies to Armenia resumed at about 07:00 p.m. local time (03:00 p.m. GMT) on Monday," he said.

The resumption of gas supplies to Armenia was confirmed by the Georgian oil and gas corporation.

"Supplies were suspended due to technical problems caused by a serious gas leak from a corrosive pipe. Workers kept their promise to repair the damaged section within five days," the spokesman said.

Armenia currently consumes 8.5 million-9 million cubic meters of gas daily, an ArmRosgazprom spokeswoman, Shushan Sardaryan, said, adding that underground gas storage facilities had been used to supply gas during the repair work.

The Armenian-Russian joint gas venture, ArmRosgazprom, has a monopoly on Russian gas supplies and distribution in Armenia.

Russian energy giant Gazprom controls 75.55% in the joint venture, the Armenian government holds a 20% stake, and Russia's Itera company another 4.44%.