Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan will take part in ensuring energy sustainability in the South Caucasus region, Azerbaijani Energy Minister said on December 11.

Azerbaijan will cooperate with Georgia and Turkey in this regard, Natig Aliyev added.

"Our cooperation has lasted for many years and gets stronger year after year. We are pleased to be part of such cooperation, which is aimed at improving the welfare of our people and contributes to the economic development of the region," Aliyev said at the opening ceremony of the power transmission line connecting Georgia to Turkey.

The power transmission line in Georgia was inaugurated by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Garibashvili said the facility which connects the power systems of Georgia and Turkey is of significant importance for Tbilisi and the whole region.

"Together with our partners from Azerbaijan and Turkey, we managed to ensure the connection of our countries' power systems. With the help of this facility, we will be able to ensure the export, import, and transit of electricity not only to Turkey, but also to European countries," Garibashvili stressed.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said the power transmission line will be able to transmit 700 megawatt power from Georgia to the European Union (EU) through Turkey.

"Power generated in Georgia will be available to European markets very soon," Yıldız said.

The power transmission line between Turkey's Black Sea province of Artvin's Borçka district and Akhaltsikhe was built to transmit power from Georgia to Europe via Turkey.

Yıldız also said the facility will transmit Azerbaijan's energy as well.

"Georgia's and also Azerbaijan's energy will be transmitted to the EU. Turkey is a reliable market. If power generation starts, 700 megawatt electricity can be transmitted to Turkey," he said.

The Akhaltsikhe substation with 550/400/220 kilovolt capacity, and high voltage power transmission lines with a 400 kilovolt capacity are part of the Black Sea transmission network project in Georgia.

The Azerbaijani delegation headed by the energy minister included head of Azerenergy JSC (production and distribution of electricity in Azerbaijan) Etibar Pirverdiyev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Georgia Azer Huseynov, and other officials.

EU representatives, representatives of the Georgian Cabinet of Ministers, around 15 Turkish businessmen interested in investing in Turkey's energy sector, and other senior officials also took part at the ceremony.

The Black Sea transmission network project is a part of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey power bridge project that will allow the export of electricity from Azerbaijan to Georgia, Turkey, and further to Europe.

The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge project envisages supply of some 1,200 megawatt of electricity to Turkey, some 600 megawatt of which is Azerbaijan's share.

The project plans to export up to 2,000 megawatt of electricity from Turkey to Europe.