Georgia Will Not Buy Gas from Russia This Year
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, January 5
(TBILISI)-- Russia’s gas supply to Georgia is no longer envisaged in 2018.
Under the decree, approved by Georgia’s Minister of Economy Dimitri Kumsishvili on December 28, 2017, Georgia has found alternative ways of gas supply for 2018.
Georgia’s natural gas demand will stand at more than 2.689 billion cubic meters in 2018. The country plans to obtain 2.679 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan, including 1.866 billion cubic meters from the state oil company SOCAR and 813 million cubic meters, produced as part of development of the Shah Deniz field.The remaining part (9.41 million cubic meters) will be provided as a result of the local production.
Since Azerbaijan will meet 99.65 percent of Georgia’s natural gas demand in 2018, Georgia will no longer have to buy any natural gas from Russia this year.
In January 2017, the Government of Georgia accepted the offer of Russia’s energy giant, Gazprom, to receive money instead of the natural gas in exchange for gas transit to Armenia via Georgia.
Before that Georgia used to receive 10% of all natural gas, which Russia sends to Armenia through Georgia.
Last year Azerbaijan was Georgia’s main gas supplier with a share of 77.9 percent of the total volume of gas imports of the country.
