The possibility of liquefied gas transit through the territory of Azerbaijan to Armenia is open, and businesses will decide whether to use it or not, Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan stated at a press conference Friday.

“There is a possibility of liquefied gas transit through the territory of Azerbaijan, we have opened [it]. Will the business use [it] or not.... In other equal terms, the railway is cheaper, but people have made large investments in that sector; for example, they have bought a car. In this case, it is more economically convenient to bring [it] by car. But for those organizations that need to rent a car, the railway may be more convenient. There is also a case that [the Upper] Lars motorway between Russia and Georgia] is being closed. There is an alternative,” said the Armenian economy minister.

Papoyan noted that the possibility of liquefied gas transit to Armenia via Azerbaijan creates competition also. Even companies that could dictate prices will no longer be able to, as there is an alternative to the railway.

And when asked whether a shipment of liquefied gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan has been transported after his announcement of the transportation agreement, the Armenian economy replied: “It is a process. Even if it had started immediately, I am not sure it would have been able to come [to Armenia].”

Gevorg Papoyan had announced in late January that an agreement had been reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the railway transportation of liquefied gas and bitumen to Armenia via Azerbaijan. He had noted that businesses can now take advantage of this opportunity as well.