Azerbaijan Socar oil and gas company wishes to buy the gas pipeline delivering the Russian gas to Armenia through Georgia. Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, in his turn, announced that the 25 percent of the shares of the oil and gas company in Georgia may be put up for sale in the future. Aravot.am spoke with Taron Hovhannisyan, an analyst of the Azerbaijani section of “Razminfo” website on this topic. “It is not the company putting on sale but the 25% of the securities. Essentially, it is impossible for any company to be able to buy the entire 25% of securities as not only the Azerbaijani side but also a number of other companies are interested in it,” explained Taron Hovhannisyan.
In his words, even if a company would be able to buy the whole 25% of the shares, it will not acquire the control package over the Georgian company, “The latter remains a Georgian State Oil and Gas Company with its controlling package. While the company having the 25% of the securities will just receive profit.” Our interlocutor believes that the statement by the Azerbaijani side pursues a propaganda goal. They want to create a sentiment among the Armenian audience that allegedly Azerbaijan will decide when and at what price should the gas be delivered to Armenia. Taron Hovhannisyan also noted that the Georgian side has not said for sure that the respective auction of the securities will be organized, and if the latter happens, the Azerbaijani company perhaps will buy 1-2% of securities.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
