Posted on 08/04/2006 3:27:09 PM PDT by sergey1973
Georgia stopped Thursday the electric energy import from Russia and will need no our energy even in the abstract starting from March 2007. As to the gas dependency, it will end even sooner, in late 2006. It was Georgian Deputy Energy Minister Achil Nikolaishvili that told Interfax about stopping import deliveries of electric energy via Kavkasioni power line August 2.
Kavkasioni delivers no more than 100MW to Georgia in summer. After rebuilding Ingur Hydroelectric Power Station and putting in operation its three units, the power grid of the country got additional 600 MW in generating capacity, said officials of Georgian government.
Georgia set to rebuilding Ingur Hydroelectric Power Station three months ago. The station was connected to the power grid in July, and its last unit, the fifth one, is due to be launched in March 2007, making the import of Russia’s energy just optional. Moreover, Georgia has expanded import opportunities and may get energy from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey now.
Kavkasioni power line has been a solid political lever of Russia. Even though the Kremlin has never threatened to impose energy sanctions against Georgia, Kavkasioni breakdowns have always coincided with the most clouded time of Russia’s-Georgian relations.
In addition to electric energy, Russia will lose the gas lever in late 2006, once Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline is put in operation. Participation in the gas transit from Shakh-Deniz field of Azerbaijan will enable it to switch to the gas of this field, should any problems at Trans-Caucasian pipeline emerge.
The folks in Atlanta will be glad to hear this. [/sarc]
DAMMIT..you beat me to it..:-)
Georgia's hard won energy independence was built entirely on the back of Alabama, which will now be entirely dependent on Moldova for its electricity needs.
Was this translated using a machine (there are a lot of ommitted articles)? And are the Georgians going to get their hydrocarbons from Iran or Azerbajian?
Alabama, Albania, whatever.
I'm not sure how it was translated. I simply posted from the english version of Kommersant website.
I don't think Georgia will get anything from Iran--it would be quite worrisome development if it did. I think they'll be getting their oil from Azerbajan and Central Asia through Baku, Tbilisi, Erzurum Pipeline.
However, If you have any other info about Iranian involvement, surely feel free to post.
Good job Georgia, guys in Kremlin are saddened
If only they will pay for their imports. :-)
I guess the biggest Georgian imports from Russia are the salaries of the Georgians working in Russia both legally and illegally. And that is the biggest lever nobody spoken about yet.
As I understand, they will get this gas in revange for transportation.
Let us see what happens. I do not know the math behind this, but it looks like they will have to transport a lot of gas for this.
IMHO, Saakashvili is the most poupulist leader from ex-USSR republics. So what comes from him and his government should be divided by 8.
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