YEREVAN - Armenian Energy Minister Karen Galustian told RFE/RL on November 11 that the Armenian government will make a decision this week to start the building of the Iran-Armenia pipeline. The minister is convinced that the new pipeline will make the energy system of Armenia more independent. The pipeline is considered to be an alternative to the Russian gas provided to Armenia since 1997.

About $120 million is needed to build the 141 km-long pipeline. Galustian thinks finding the resources will not be problematic. "The Russian State monopolist Gasprom Corporation is interested in participating in the future consortium," he told RFE/RL. There are also some Greek and Chinese corporations interested in the project.

As to the Russian interest, it is believed that Russia will accept the restructuring of Armenia's $30 million debt to the Russian ITERA corporation for the Russian gas. Karen Galustian told RFE/RL that the Armenian government has already suggested to Moscow to buy a 50% share of the Hrasdan thermoelectric power station, which produces about 40% of Armenia's electric power.