PM: Georgia will not Pay Non-Commercial Price for Gas

Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on November 4 that Georgia will not pay the USD 230 per 1000 cubic meters of gas proposed by Russian energy giant Gazprom, adding that it is a ?non-commercial price.?

?If it is a commercial price that will be common for the entire region [South Caucasus], we will continue talks [with Gazprom]. But if it is a punitive move against Georgia, of course there is no reason for talks. Georgia will not pay a non-commercial price. Thisshould be clear to everyone,? PM Nogaideli told reporters.

He also said that Georgia is undergoing intensive talks with Azerbaijan and Turkey to convince them to increase Georgia?s share in purchasing Shah-Deniz gas from the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline, which is expected to be put into operation in December, 2006.

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