Saakashvili Hails Energy Ministry for ‘Historic’ Gas Deal

President Saakashvili said on December 30 that Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri has signed “a historic agreement” with Turkey and Azerbaijan in Ankara on gas supplies to Georgia.

Although he did not specify the details of this contract, Saakashvili said that Georgia will switch to a supply of gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah-Deniz field as soon as technical problems are fixed on drilling wells.

Later the same day Energy Minister Nika Gilauri specified that the President was referring to an agreement with Azerbaijan which envisages the supply of 1 million cubic meters of gas per day under the price of USD 120 per 1000 cubic meters. He said that although it is a three-month contract envisaging the supply of a total of 90 million cubic meters, Georgia will suspend import of this gas as soon as Shah-Deniz field is put into operation.

President Saakashvili said that that Georgia “will also maintain gas supplies from other sources,” apparently referring to Russia, after the Shah-Deniz is launched.

Saakashvili noted that it remains unclear for him what is the reason behind technical problems on Shah-Deniz field, which has triggered a delay of gas supply from this source.

Saakashvili was speaking at a government session in Tbilisi in the presence of Energy Minister Nika Gilauri, who reportedly returned from Ankara on December 30.

The Georgian President said that he is “satisfied with the work” of the Energy Ministry.

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