PM: talks with investors on construction of hydropower plants underway
Electricity production in Georgia decreased by 5.9 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, and totalled 11,159.8 million kWh. The consumption of electricity in the country also decreased in 2020 by 4.8 percent year-on-year, amounting to 11,479.3 million kWh. Photo: Enguri HPP/Facebook
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The Georgian Government is holding consultations with “various investors” over projects to construct hydropower plants in the country, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday.
Garibashvili said the Government planned to be a “partial participant” in the implementation of the “large” projects for HPPs.
The move follows the PM saying last week the country required construction of as many hydropower plants “as possible” due to rising energy consumption. The Government head also announced the business sector would be offered a “relevant package” by the Government.
Electricity production in Georgia decreased by 5.9 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, and totalled 11,159.8 million kWh. The consumption of electricity in the country also decreased in 2020 by 4.8 percent year-on-year, amounting to 11,479.3 million kWh.
A number of public protests took place in Georgia over the recent years regarding agreements signed between the Government and private companies for the construction of HPPs in the country, with locals in regions of the country holding rallies against plant projects that would alter their settlements.
In other comments during Monday’s weekly Government meeting, Garibashvili talked about economic growth, noting tourism in Georgia had recovered by 80-90 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Industrial production of wind power plants in Georgia is set to begin following the signing of a memorandum between the country Economy Ministry, the State Military Scientific Centre Delta and Georgian Wind Energy Association on Wednesday.
Georgia’s energy consumption requires the country to build as many hydropower plants as possible, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday while speaking on matters of investment and energy independence.
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.
Electricity production in Georgia decreased by 5.9% in 2020 compared to the previous year, and totalled 11,159.8 million kWh of electricity, a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) read.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has called on fuel importer companies to adjust their prices “as soon as possible” at the weekly Government meeting on Monday.
The German Government will allocate €1.3 million through the German Development Bank to support the introduction of the green hydrogen technology and develop relevant conducive legal framework in Georgia, the Embassy of Germany announced on Tuesday.
Recently announced large-scale infrastructure projects and public employment programme, as well as ongoing energy projects, were discussed in a meeting of the Georgian Government’s Economic Council, led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday.
About 200 officials from over 70 companies operating in the oil and gas industry are gathered in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to attend the 54th Meeting of the Continental Europe Energy Council between Friday and Saturday.
Georgia has “great potential” for strengthening global energy security with the prospect of acting as a bridge between the energy markets of Europe and Central Asia, David Songhulashvili, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Sectoral Economics and Economic Policy, said on Monday.
Electricity production in Georgia was up by 13.6 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, while domestic consumption amounted to 13.3 percent, a report of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, published on Friday, said.
More than $1 billion will be spent on completing suspended hydro power plant projects across Georgia to activate 800 megawatts of supply, while the Government will also announce a tender for the construction of new energy facilities adding 1,500 MW of generation, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced at the Government meeting on Monday.