Georgia’s electricity generation hits “historical high”- Economy Minister
Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, has reported to lawmakers over his body’s work. Photo: Parliament press office
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Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, on Wednesday told the Parliament electricity generation in the country had hit its “historical high” of 11.1 billion KW/h in the first nine months of this year.
Reporting to lawmakers over his body’s work, the Minister also said the country had exported a “record high” 1.5 billion KW/h electricity in the same period.
Hailing the Government-proposed renewable energy support scheme, the official claimed the private sector had shown “a very high interest” in the initiative, and the construction of 15 hydroelectric power plants, two wind power plants and 10 solar power plants was expected in the country.
He stressed the projects could lead to generation of 1.1 billion KW/h annually, while the cost of investment would exceed $400 million, before noting the Government planned to open a second, similar auction in the future.
Davitashvili said the Government was also working on a project for four large hydropower plants, including the Khudoni HPP on Enguri River in the north-west of the country, and added investors would be selected after the compilation of related technical and economic studies.
The official also focused on the country's energy stability and reviewed the Black Sea submarine power transmission cable project, construction of a 350-430 MW high-efficiency combined cycle thermal power plant in Gardabani municipality in the country’s south-east, and the process of identifying a private investor for the project.
He also noted natural gas had been supplied to 7,800 families from 37 settlements across the country over the past nine months, and added 93 percent of the country’s population would be supplied after the completion of planned works.
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.
The Georgian Government on Monday announced it would seek to announce a new tender on the construction of the Khudoni Hydro Power Plant, projected to become the second largest HPP in the country, with “active involvement” of the state, after terminating the agreement for the project with the previous investor.
A new Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant will be built in Georgia to increase the country’s power generation and move Georgia one step closer towards energy independence.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the Government was able “not only to maintain economic stability but also to ensure double-digit growth” for two years in a row “despite challenges”.
Three wind and five hydroelectric powerplants are planned to be built in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Imereti regions of Georgia, the Administration of the Government of Georgia said on Monday. The total installed capacity of energy projects, presented at today’s Government meeting, is over 250 megawatts of installed capacity, and will total $400 million in investments.
The Government of Georgia on Monday discussed a project initiated by the Ministry of Economy for construction of two new hydro powerplants in the western regions of Racha and Samegrelo.
Long-term safety of dams is a “huge task” for any country, including Georgia, the country’s Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze said on Tuesday in his address to the international conference titled Dams and Hydropower: Adapting for a Changing World.
The Government of Georgia on Monday approved construction of wind and solar power plants, transfer of over 305 hectares of agricultural land plots to 14 leases and restructuring of the youth affairs state agency at its weekly meeting.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Tuesday said the country had “all conditions” to be a net exporter of electricity, adding the Government’s “main goal” was to ensure export from local generation to the European Union.
The Georgian Energy Development Fund and the Emirati state-owned renewable energy company Masdar on Tuesday signed an agreement on establishing the “largest” solar power plant in Georgia, the Ministry of Economy announced.
The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission on Thursday decided to reduce electricity tariffs for both household and non-household consumers by three tetri per one kWh starting next month.
Georgian deputy economy ministers Romeo Mikautadze and Vakhtang Tsintsadze on Thursday said the decrease of electricity tariffs for both household and non-household consumers by three tetri per one kWh was “a result of the Government’s correct economic and energy policies”.