Georgia Stops Importing Russian Electricity
Georgia stopped importing electricity from Russia through the Kavkasioni high-voltage power line after the Enguri hydroelectric plant was put into operation following the completion of rehabilitation works, the Georgian Energy Ministry says.
Currently, the Enguri power plant, located at the administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and rest of Georgia, generates 400 megawatts of electricity daily.
According to the Georgian Energy Ministry, the Kavkasioni power line was transmitting about 100 megawatts of electricity from Russia per day.
The Russian daily Kommersant wrote on August 4 that importing electricity via the Kavkasioni power line ?has always been a matter of politics in the relationship between the Russian Federation and Georgia.?
?Russia has never officially threatened Georgia with ‘electricity sanctions,’ but major damages always occurred on the power line during [times of] tension between Russia and Georgia,? the Kommersant said.
The paper also said that Georgia?s energy dependence on Russia will be reduced further by the end of 2006 when the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline is put into operation.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)