At the Energy Charter Conference in Tbilisi, Deputy PM and Energy Minister of Georgia Kakha Kaladze spoke for a common regional energy network including Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Vzglyad newspaper reports.  

“Georgia serves as a flagship for the contribution to the energy cooperation in the region. Our main aim is to enhance the regional cooperation at the cost of energy exchange and thus contribute to the political dialogue, attracting massive investments and developing transportation corridors,” Kaladzde said.

According to him, following the collapse of the USSR, new states of the South Caucasus “experienced drop of economic and social sectors, political conflicts, civil opposition and blockades,” which, among other things, negatively impacted the energy sector.

With this respect, Kakha Kaladze noted that the attention of the international community is currently focused on the Caspian energy sources and the entire region in terms of their delivery to Europe.

In his words, among the most important projects is the establishment of power exchange between Georgia and Turkey in the volume of 700 MW.  

“Establishment of a common energy network with Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia will become a logical continuation, which will allow creating a regional energy market,” he said. 

“Currently Georgia has finished the construction of ETL-500, which links it with Azerbaijan, exonerated the ETL-500 between Georgia and Russia and is soon going to put into operation ETL-500 with Armenia,” he said.

“The current and future projects make it possible to link the energy systems of South Caucasus countries, and Georgia will be a power bridge, ensuring the growth of energy exchange and trade,” he said.