Micheil Janelidze
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Micheil Janelidze, has affirmed that the goal of the government of Georgia is to ensure the stable and uninterrupted supply of natural gas, which has been a problem lately due to increased consumption in the country.
To achieve this goal, the government conducted long and open negotiations that have brought successful results. Janelidze said that together with Georgia’s friend and strategic partner – Azerbaijan – means of supply of additional amounts of natural gas, necessary for covering the deficit were found, on good terms.
The agreement on this was reached and signed by the Minister for Energy of Georgia and the Azerbaijani company SOCAR last week.
Negotiations with the company GAZPROM were conducted on the terms of the transit of natural gas from Russia to Armenia, through the Georgian-owned infrastructure.
This type of negotiation has been conducted every year, since 2004, as the transit contract is annual. At the same time, the negotiations included the possibility of supplies of the amounts of natural gas needed for the coverage of the deficit, in case it was not possible through other sources. As a result of the agreements reached with SOCAR, there is no any need for buying additional amounts from “GAZPROM exports”. Accordingly, agreement with GAZPROM on the continuation of transit contract on the terms existing during the previous years was reached, which will be signed in coming days as well. Georgia will get natural gas for the transit of gas to Armenia and no additional amounts of gas will be purchased from GAZPROM by Georgia.
With these agreements, the government of Georgia has ensured the best possible terms for the stable and uninterrupted supplies of gas and energy security for the country, Janelidze said.
