The Messenger, Georgia
May 11 2005

Enguri HES disconnected for one month
By M. Alkhazashvili

Enguri hydroelectric station will be switched off later this month
for about four weeks to enable repair work to be carried out.

The government had planned earlier this year that Enguri would be
closed for almost three months from the beginning of April for the
much needed repairs. After the loss of the Kavkasioni high voltage
transmission line, however, which meant Russian imports were
effectively switched off, the government decided that the bulk of
planned repairs would be delayed until next Spring.

Disconnecting Enguri for only four weeks will nevertheless impact the
country’s energy supply, as it is the largest producer of domestic
electricity, although with snowmelt filling the reservoirs serving
other hydroelectric stations, the country is less dependent now on
Enguri than it was in winter.

The problem faced by the Ministry of Energy is that the vital repair
works can only be carried out in spring, but this spring the loss of
Russian imports meant losing Enguri as well would leave the country
in darkness.

Energy Minister Nika Gilauri explained in winter that Georgia would
have to rely on imports from Russia and Armenia while Enguri was
switched off, but its is clear that neither supply cannot be relied
on because the old transmission lines, which have received little or
no rehabilitation over the past fifteen years, are frequently
disabled.

It is still impossible to reach the section of the Kavkasioni line
damaged by an avalanche back in February because of snow – only in
June will it be possible to repair the line, officials say.
Meanwhile, Georgia is no longer importing electricity from Armenia
because it is unable to pay the higher prices demanded by Armenia
following the devaluation of the dollar.

It is for this reason that only the water-gate on Enguri’s first unit
will be repaired this year, while repairs to the central water tunnel
will be postponed until next spring. There is a good chance, however,
that Georgia will find itself in a similar situation next year – and
that the question will again arise whether the country can afford to
switch off Enguri to allow the necessary repairs to be carried out.