Russia Starts Restoration of Destroyed Pipeline

Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the main gas pipeline in Russia?s North Ossetian Republic, RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting a North Ossetian Emergency Ministry official.

The Interfax news agency reported that round-the-clock rehabilitation works will be carried-out.

The main and reserve gas pipelines were blown-up early on Sunday, cutting off the gas supply to Georgia and Armenia.

Russian officials said that the reserve gas pipeline was badly damaged and full rehabilitation will probably be impossible.

Earlier it was reported that it will take about four days to restore the main pipeline.

Meanwhile, Georgia started importing gas from Azerbaijan, but it is not enough to meet Georgia?s needs.

The Russian General Prosecutor?s Office has initiated a criminal case into the explosions for the ?deliberate damage of property.?

The explosives used in this incident equaled 700-800 grams of TNT and went off on both pipelines, Nikolai Shepel, the Russian Deputy General Prosecutor, told Interfax.

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