Georgia Seeks Russia’s Consent on Transit of Kazakh Gas

Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri will depart for Moscow on November 22 to negotiate with Russian officials about a possible transit of Kazakh gas into Georgia via Russia. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli will join talks in Moscow on November 24.

These talks in Moscow will come in the wake of Gilauri and Nogaideli’s trip to Kazakhstan on November 18-19. According to the Georgian Energy Ministry, Kazakhstan has expressed a readiness to deliver 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Georgia annually.

Now the Georgian side will have to seek the consent of the Russian energy giant Gazprom, for transportation of the Kazakh gas via Russia. Currently Gazprom is the only supplier of natural gas to Georgia.