"Gazprom" appeals not to politicize issues of gas supply to Georgia

"Gazprom" does everything in its power for urgent restoration of gas supplies to Georgia but appeals not to politicize situation around explosions at pipeline.

Official representative of "Gazprom", press-secretary of president Sergey Kupriyanov emphasized that the gas holding was astonished at "emotional statements of several mass media".

Repair works at gas-main pipeline "Mozdok-Transcaucasia" has already started. Necessary equipment is drawn to the place of explosion. Pipelaying cranes, bulldozers have arrived from Mozdok.

About 10 meters of gas-main pipeline of 1200 mm in diameter need to be restored. By tentative data, it will take 1-2 days. Talking about reserve gas pipeline of 700 mm in diameter, decision about its reconstruction has not been made yet.

Director of Mozdok department of gas-main pipeline Administration Mikhail Krainov is in charge of repair works at damaged pipeline.

At present moment Georgian and Russian sides work at increase of Russian gas supplies through Azerbaijan for following transit to Georgia, informed representative of "Gazexport" in Georgia David Morchiladze.

He noted that cause of force majeure situation will be established by appropriate organs. Russian Embassy in Georgia issued entrance visas to Georgian experts, so they can examine the place of accident.

Morchiladze said that after damage control Russian gas supplies to Georgia and Armenia will be realized through main pipeline in previous volumes.

sections: Politics