Georgia can play key role as regional hub for green energy development - Deputy Economy Minister
He highlighted the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, which would contribute to the energy security of the European Union and the Caucasus region, adding the project would not only diversify supply routes but also reduce supply risks, giving Georgia a “great potential” for additional income. Photo via Economy Ministry
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Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on Thursday said Georgia’s role as a hub for green energy development was evident in the region in view of its “strategic location”, highlighting the importance of strengthening and developing appropriate infrastructure to ensure the transportation of green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe.
He highlighted the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, which would contribute to the energy security of the European Union and the Caucasus region, adding the project would not only diversify supply routes but also reduce supply risks, giving Georgia a “great potential” for additional income.
The development of green energy in Georgia, reform of the electric energy market, encouragement of energy production and use from renewable sources, as well as energy efficiency, were also pointed out by the official at the 12th meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee in Brussels, the Economy Ministry said.
"Georgia's energy sector is in an active phase of development. Our goal is to make full and effective use of the huge unused potential of renewable energy in order to increase the country's energy security", he said, noting a new renewable energy support scheme was elaborated with the support of donor organisations, which provides development of non-traditional sources, including hydrogen, biogas, biomass, geothermal energies.
Mikautadze also emphasised Georgia's 2030 Climate Change Strategy, which envisages achieving the target indicators both in the consumption of renewable energy and for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.
Genadi Arveladze, the Deputy Economy Minister, on Thursday said Georgia was “ready to do everything” to achieve its goal and become a member of the European Union, noting “getting the membership candidate status and beginning the accession negotiations are only the commencement of a long road” to EU integration.
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.
The Georgian government expects the country's energy sector to receive investments worth $3 billion over the next three years "if all projects being considered are launched", prime minister Irakli Garibashvili said at the government meeting on Monday.
The Black Sea strategic submarine electricity cable between Georgia and the European Union will be a “window of new opportunities”, which will turn the country into an electricity hub and improve the internal energy market, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday at the signing ceremony of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership in the field of Green Energy Development and Transmission between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary.
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.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on Saturday said the European Mobility Week, hosted in Tbilisi starting from today till Friday, aimed to raise awareness of sustainable urban mobility, promoting travel by public transport, walking and cycling.