RIA Novosti, Russia
Nov 17 2004

GEORGIA RESUMES RUSSIAN ELECTRICITY IMPORTS

TBILISI, November 17 (RIA Novosti’s Marina Kvaratskhelia) – On
Wednesday night, the Tbilisi-based electricity distribution company
TELASI has resumed the import of power from Russia at a rate of 100
megawatts (two million kilowatt/hours daily), RIA Novosti learnt from
the company.

Electricity arrives through the Kavkasioni 500-kilovolt power
transmission line.

In addition, the company has resumed the same amount of electricity
imports from Armenia through the Alaverdi 220-kilovolt power
transmission line.

TELASI buys from Russia electricity at 2.6 cents, from Armenia at 2.7
cents per kilowatt.

Supplies from both the countries were suspended during the
spring-summer period for Georgia’s being able to meet the domestic
demand during the time.

In winter Tbilisi needs 500 megawatts.

The import of electricity enables cutting water consumption from the
water reservoirs of the Inguri and other Georgian hydropower
stations, TELASI said.

TELASI’s import of 200 megawatts is enough for smooth power supply to
the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

The other 300 megawatts produced from firing natural gas arrive from
the ninth power unit of the Tbilisi-based power generating facility,
owned by the RAO Russia’s UES Company.