Georgia’s energy dependence on Russia is "not very high” with Azerbaijan being the country’s main supplier of gas, Davit Narmania, the Head of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission told local media outlet bpn.ge on Thursday.
Narmania noted Russia was not the only supplier of electricity either, as Georgia also imported from Azerbaijan and Turkey. Georgia will not face a deficit if Russia is no longer able to export electricity due to sanctions imposed on the country over the war in Ukraine, he added.
When a country bids for imports, Russian electricity is often cheaper and therefore chosen for import, however there are alternatives,” Narmania told bpn.ge.
Giorgi Pangani, a member of the Commission, said earlier today the state body was also working to support the development of domestic renewable energy potential and policy for its effective use.
He also noted electricity consumption in the country was characterised by an average annual growth trend of four percent, lagging behind the growth rate of local electricity production.
Electricity production in Georgia decreased by 5.9 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, and totalled 11,159.8 million kWh. Consumption in the country also decreased in 2020 by 4.8 percent year-on-year, amounting to 11,479.3 million kWh.