Energy Minister: Privatization of Gas Pipeline Not Planned
Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri told reporters on March 14 that privatization of Georgia’s gas pipeline system is not currently planned.
However, on March 9 Gilauri told Reuters that selling of Georgia’s gas pipelines to the Russian Gazprom is possible if the price and terms of contract are acceptable.
But he explained on March 14 that Georgia might propose such terms, including extremely high price for gas pipelines and also very low price on imported Russian gas that Russia will never agree on them. He also added that these proposals have never been discussed with Russian side.
But he said that Georgia plans to offer proposals to Gazprom over a long-term agreement, which will define terms of gas supplies, including its tariffs, as well as cost of transit of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia.