Georgia plans to agree with Gazprom on the growth of gas imports

​Georgia plans to agree with Gazprom on the growth of gas imports. According to the Minister of Energy, K. Kaladze, the stake of the Russian gas in the total volume of consumption of the county might grow from 12% to 20%.

We keep negotiating with Gazprom aiming for the supply of additional volumes of gas to cover the increased need in Georgia, the Minister said hoping to reach an agreement in the framework of the meeting in Vienna on January 20th.

The Minister explained the necessity to increase the supply from Russia by the gas deficit in winter. Azerbaijan, the main strategic partner of the country, can’t ship larger volumes to Georgia by technical reasons as the pipeline doesn’t allow, the Minister of Energy said.

Currently Gazprom demands to turn 10% stake from the transit gas supplies to Armenia into monetary form as there are other ways of supplies to Armenia. Meanwhile Georgia doesn’t want to lose the status of a transit country as that will complicate the energy situation.

Georgia has been holding negotiations with Russia on the growth of import since September 2015.