Georgia’s electricity generation hits “historical high”- Economy Minister

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.