The FINANCIAL — According to Civil Georgia, Georgia’s energy sector is sustainable enough to survive even in “the worst case scenario,” including reoccurrence of Russia’s sabotage similar to the one that took place in January, 2006, the government ministers told President Saakashvili at a televised meeting on December 8.
Explosions of two gas pipelines in Russia’s North Ossetian Republic early three years ago suspended gas supply to Georgia and Armenia. Georgia claimed the explosions were “deliberate act of sabotage” by Russia.
“We are not insured against force majeure situation and against the explosions which were carried out by Russia in 2006. But the system is completely ready to cope even with such difficulties,” Energy Minister, Alexandre Khetaguri, told the President.
PM Grigol Mgaloblishvili told the President: “Even in the event of the worst case scenario, Georgia’s energy sector will maintain its sustainability.”
President Saakashvili said that after securing a long-term gas supply deal with Azerbaijan, Georgia was currently receiving only small amount of gas from Russia as a transit fee – Georgia is getting 10% of total amount of gas transited by Russia to Armenia via Georgia.
Saakashvili said that he hoped Russia would not jeopardy its partner Armenia’s energy supply for the sake of cutting only a small amount of gas to Georgia.
He, however, also said that Georgia had enough stockpile of mazut fuel “in case of sabotage.”
“During this winter electricity and gas supply to Georgia will be the major security issue,” Saakashvili said. “We should do our best to avoid similar developments which occurred in the nineties. Illuminated houses, heated schools and hospitals is Georgia’s defense now.”
