Gardabani 500 substation to ensure exchange of electricity between Georgia, Azerbaijan
Georgia and Azerbaijan will be able to exchange 1,000 MW of power “smoothly” once the project of the Gardabani 500 substation in southern Georgia is completed. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Georgia and Azerbaijan will be able to exchange 1,000 MW of power “smoothly” once the project of the Gardabani 500 substation in southern Georgia is completed, Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze said on Monday.
Mikautadze said the project, with a total budget of ₾20 million ($7.77mln), would help increase the reliability of “synchronous operation” with Azerbaijan.
Moreover, the completion of the project, especially during the winter season, will significantly increase [consistent] electricity supply”, Mikautadze said.
Romeo Mikautadze visited the construction site on Monday. Photo: Ministry of Economy
The related two-circuit transmission line will connect the energy systems of the two countries via Gardabani 500 and Aghstapa substations and is operated in southern Georgia’s Gardabani and Marneuli municipalities.
The construction of the infrastructure was launched in April 2021 as part of the 2022-2032 development plan for transmission lines in the country.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Saturday said the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili would highlight Georgia’s intention to play an “important part” of European energy security in the diversification process of energy resources supply to Europe at the Munich Security Conference panel discussion today.
The first weekly meeting of the Georgian Government in 2023 on Monday discussed raising funds for the feasibility study of the Black Sea submarine cable project and construction of a wind power plant in the western Imereti region, among other topics.
Georgia’s energy sector is in “an active phase” of development and the country’s goal is to “effectively” use the “huge” unused potential of renewable energy through hydro, wind, solar, and other energy-sufficient directions, Romeo Mikautadze, Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister said on Saturday at the 13th session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.
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.