Economy Ministers meets with striking miners in Tkibuli
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Friday, September 27
“I have the prime minister's task to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties and that it is acceptable to you in the first place. You are the chief wealth of Saknakhshiri and the main power here, ” Turnava said.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia responded to the miners' protest in Tkibuli at the government session and said that it was absolutely unacceptable what was happening in Tkibuli. According to him, every investor and employer should bear in mind that they are obliged to fulfill financial and wage obligations, as well as to create appropriate working conditions for each employee, which implies full compliance with labor security and technical safety standards.
Economy Minister announced that she believes that people in Georgia have a future and having local energy source is very important.
According to her, with good management, proper control, and investments, Tkibuli miners can become a stronghold in terms of energy security. Turnava hoped that she would hear convincing answers from the management company about why they had trouble working and what they saw as a solution.
“Giving wages to miners is a business obligation, but if the business fails to fulfill its obligations for reasons, of course, the state is ready to come up with an acceptable solution… It is important for me to hear convincing answers as to when salaries will go down and when this enterprise will start operating normally under safe extraction conditions," the economy minister said at a meeting with Tkibuli miners, after which he met with Sakhnakhshiri management.
“The company is negotiating with different groups. They have found an investor. This is a Georgian group that has Ukrainian partners,” Turnava announced after the meeting.
According to Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani, there are several companies that will be interested in Tkibuli: “We can play the role of facilitator, provide more comfort to a potential investor who enforces safety norms and standards, thus making the enterprise profitable. The resource is this, this resource is not exhausted. Therefore, I hope and believe that this way the scenario will develop,” announced Machavariani.
Employees of Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines in Tkibuli held rallies demanding timely compensation on September 24 and 25. The miners also demand guarantees that the shafts will not be closed and coal extraction will continue. About 40 people are on hunger strike. On September 25, director-general of Saqnakhshiri said that salaries for Tkibuli miners will likely be available by Friday.
The miners are also demanding that the government return the mountainous status to Tkibuli. As Khvicha Gabunia, one of the organizers and miners of the rally told reporters, granting high-mountains status to the population would give them a utility tax break and eliminate some of the social problems in the district.