Terrorist attack on gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Georgia - Georgian TV

The Rustavi-2 channel, citing sources in Azerbaijan, said the South Caucasus (Baku-Tblisi-Erzerum) pipeline pumping gas to Georgia from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea was seriously damaged by an explosion December 20.

Officials both in Tbilisi and in Baku have not confirmed the report.

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said earlier Friday that natural gas deliveries from Azerbaijan to Georgia have been suspended for several weeks for technical reasons.

Nogaideli said Georgia will buy Russian gas at a new price of $235 per 1,000 cubic meters until gas supply from Azerbaijan is restored.

Georgia has until now received most of its natural gas from Russia at $110 per 1,000 cubic meters, but Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom has doubled the price as of 2007.

Gazprom signed three contracts Friday on supplies of 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia in 2007 at $235 per 1,000 cubic meters on condition that 2006 supplies total 1.8 billion cubic meters. RIA Novosti