Azernews.Az

TBILISI – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday attended the opening of the first section of the pipeline built by SOCAR Georgia Gas, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state energy firm SOCAR, in the Georgian city of Poti.

Addressing the ceremony, President Saakashvili thanked Azerbaijan for its friendly support. "Though world prices are rising, thanks to an agreement with Azerbaijan, the gas tariff for Georgia is not being raised," he said.

Saakashvili called the agreement on gas supplies concluded with Baku an indication of friendship and support from the Azerbaijani leaders. "This is huge support for the Georgian people," he said.

The opening ceremony was attended by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, CEO of SOCAR Energy Georgia Mahir Mammadov, Director of SOCAR Georgia Gas Anar Mammadov, Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri and other Georgian officials.

The pipeline covers nine residential blocks and private sector facilities. 707 potential customers will be supplied with gas via the pipeline.

The 150 km gas pipeline is to be built in Poti. 17,000 people will be supplied with gas under the project. According to SOCAR's three-year investment program, pipelines stretching for a total of 1,500 km are to be constructed throughout Georgia.

In 2009-2010, SOCAR Georgia Gas built pipelines extending for 880 km and provided gas to 86,000 people.

SOCAR Georgia Gas LLC is a subsidiary of SOCAR Energy Georgia which was founded in August 2007 to operate in the natural gas market in Georgia.