Deputy Economy Minister, NATO Representative discuss energy reforms of Georgia
The Ministry said Appathurai confirmed his support for the energy sector of Georgia and pledged support for promoting its development. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze and James Appathurai, the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, on Wednesday discussed reforms in Georgia’s energy sector at their meeting in Tbilisi.
The Ministry of Economy said the parties discussed energy projects for strengthening Georgia’s energy security, with Appathurai emphasising the Black Sea submarine cable project - conceived to connect the electrical grid of the South Caucasus to those of European states.
The NATO official said the project was important not only for the development of Georgia but also for the wider South Caucasus region.
He also noted Georgia had “great energy potential” and its resources provided for increasing the domestic generation capacity, which he called “essential” for economic development.
The Ministry said Appathurai confirmed his support for the energy sector of Georgia and pledged support for promoting its development.
Officials from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania and Hungary on Thursday met in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi to discuss various stages of the implementation of the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, a new transmission route to deliver green energy from Azerbaijan to Europe, the Georgian Ministry of Economy announced.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said the Black Sea submarine cable international project gave a “new European purpose” to Georgia, while also “significantly” increasing the country’s role in ensuring Europe’s energy security.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday stressed the importance of the recently signed Black Sea submarine cable international project and said the endeavour was a “Georgian initiative", in remarks to the Ambassadors Conference in Tbilisi.
The high officials of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania and Hungary on Saturday signed an Agreement on the Black Sea Submarine Electricity Cable project in Bucharest, to export green energy to Europe via Georgia.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy, on Sunday announced the bloc would allocate €17 billion for the economic and investment plan of its Eastern Partnership initiative, including €2.3 billion in estimated total investments for the Black Sea Strategic Submarine Electricity Cable.
An agreement on a €2 million programme on developing sustainable energy in Georgia was signed on Thursday between Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, and Jeppe Kofod, the Danish Foreign Minister.
The German Development Bank (KfW) will help the government of Georgia to implement energy reforms, announces the Ministry of Economy of Georgia.
The Government of Georgia, a German government-owned development bank KFW and the French Development Agency (AFD) are signing a declaration on launching reforms for developing the energy market in Georgia and improve energy efficiency in the country.
Georgian-German relations, priority areas of cooperation and ways of further developing them were discussed on Thursday by the Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and members of a delegation of the European Union Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on Tuesday said more intensive utilisation of energy, especially hydro resources, additional jobs, taxes, economic growth and infrastructure development would help strengthen Georgia's independence, highlighting energy self-sufficiency as an “important part” of the country's independence.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on Thursday welcomed delegations of nine south-eastern European countries that gathered in Tbilisi to participate in the 32nd Energy Efficiency Coordination Group and Workshop of the Energy Community.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday told MPs Brussels, the European Union and “large financial institutions” were backing the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project for linking the power grid of the South Caucasus with those of EU states.