The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 30 2005
Minister: despite uncertainties, winter energy forecast good
“It is difficult to guarantee that there will be no accidents” warns
minister
By Christina Tashkevich
Minister Nika Gilauri
Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri predicts that the Georgian energy
system will be able to avoid accidents this coming winter.
Talking at the meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Economy
Committee on Wednesday, Minister Gilauri forecast the system may face
some breakdowns because it has been operating on such a heavy
schedule in recent years.
“We will have capacity so that there will not be a deficit in the
energy system, but it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no
accidents,” Minister Gilauri said.
According to Gilauri, the system may still face accidents even after
hydroelectric stations and thermoelectric stations are rehabilitated.
However, the minister thinks that due to the repairs of energy
infrastructure this summer and autumn which included the Tbilsresi
thermoelectric station in Gardabani, the system can work in a 24-hour
regime with a 1,800 megawatt capacity this year. As part of the
repairs, Gardabani is purchasing two gas turbines from the U.S.
company Pratt and Whitney (see related story, page 9).
Gilauri added that the bulk of the energy in the system would be
locally produced, while only 350 megawatts would be imported.
“We hope that the system will endure working in a 24-hour regime in
winter 2006,” news agencies report Gilauri saying on Wednesday.
Tbilisi electricity distribution company Telasi claims it can supply
the capital with 24-hour electricity without any disruptions granted
there are no “force majeur situations.”
The head of Telasi public relations department Valeri Pantsulaia told
The Messenger Wednesday that the reliable supply of electricity will
be ensured by energy produced by the ninth electricity bloc in
Gardabani, the Khrami hydroelectric station, and electricity imports
from Russia and Armenia.
The ninth power plant will start operation on October 1 after routine
repair works. Pantsulaia says it will work with a 200 megawatt
capacity in October and its capacity will rise to 250 megawatts in
November.
Negotiations with Russian gas company Gazprom was another issue
discussed at the meeting of the parliamentary committee on Wednesday.
Representative of Gazprom in Georgia David Morchiladze confirmed at
the meeting that Gazprom has already made its first offer to the
Georgian side about the cost of gas imports.
“The first offer by Gazprom at negotiations in Moscow was USD 110
[for 1000 cubic meters of gas instead of the previous USD 60],”
Morchiladze said. He added that Georgia plans to agree with Gazprom
on a contract for 10 years.
The Russian company also demands that the Tbilisi gas distribution
company Tbilgazi pay off its existing debts to Gazprom’s subsidiary
company Gazexport. Tbilgazi still has a USD 5.7 million debt to
cover.