Azerbaijan to export power to Georgia via energy bridge
By Aynur Jafarova
The construction of a new substation and power lines in Georgia will allow Azerbaijan to export an annual 500-600 mw/h of electric power to the country.
The news was announced by Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev told journalists on December 16.
He said Azerbaijan has an opportunity to export electric power to Georgia, adding that these opportunities have been broadened by the construction of new energy facilities in the country.
Joining Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Turkish energy systems in the short term will create a possibility to export electric power to Turkey, Aliyev said.
The power transmission line in Georgia was inaugurated by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze on December 11.
The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge project envisages supply of about 1,200 megawatt of electricity to Turkey, some 600 megawatt of which is Azerbaijan's share.
The project is intended to export up to 2,000 megawatt of electricity from Turkey to Europe.
Earlier, President of Azerenergy JSC Etibar Pirverdiyev said exporting electricity is planned to start in 2015 via the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge.
Work within this project over Azerbaijan has already been completed, the Georgian section of the power transmission infrastructure was inaugurated, and the remaining work is now only in Turkey and is planned to be completed in the coming months, Pirverdiyev said.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mariam Valishvili told Baku-based Trend news agency that the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge is ready to transport electricity.
She said Georgia will be able to launch electricity exports in April, as it has electricity excess from April to August. The country will be able to export 300-400 million kilowatt-hours during the export period at the first stage of the project operation.