Georgia’s energy sector is in “an active phase” of development and the country’s goal is to “effectively” use the “huge” unused potential of renewable energy through hydro, wind, solar and other energy-sufficient directions, Romeo Mikautadze, Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister said on January 15 at the 13th session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.
In his speech, Mikautadze said the “best international practice” showed that sustainable development and transition to sustainable energy had been a “step forward” towards a low-emission economy. Sustainable development is not only the utilisation of renewable energy but it also represents a synergy of energy efficiency, renewable energy and policy development, requiring the availability of resources, appropriate investments, strong political will and cooperation between different parties both within and outside the country, he added.
Georgia has been generating additional electricity to meet the “growing demand” for energy, especially to overcome the “winter deficit” and reduce dependence on imported energy resources, Mikautadze said, highlighting the 202 renewable energy projects, including 153 hydro, 18 wind and 31 solar power plants, currently in various stages of development.
“The electricity transmission infrastructure of Georgia is actively developing. In order to improve the sustainability of Georgia’s energy system and establish it as a regional hub for electricity generation and transit, we have developed a 10-year network development plan for 2022-2032”, Mikautadze noted, adding the strategic document would provide a “stable, reliable, economical and efficient” transmission system at “any stage” of development, which would ensure the security of the network and facilitate the exchange of electricity with neighbouring countries.
He also devoted his attention to the ongoing energy reform in Georgia and stressed the country’s goal was to transform from a “vertically integrated structure” to one where the legal, financial and operational functions of transmission and distribution would be separated from suppliers, traders and generators, and which would promote the competition in the wholesale market, also affecting the retail markets, he added.
“A competitive market will facilitate the efficient use of opportunities for cross-border trade with our neighbours and the opening of the sector to competitive forces, including foreign participants and investors”, the Deputy Minister said.
Mikautadze also spoke about the integrated energy and climate plan, defining the goals of renewable energy, energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions until 2030.
“We are sure that the development of the energy sector in Georgia will contribute to the development of sustainable energy and will also meet the goal of sustainable development in the future. Hopefully, our efforts will lead to the structural change required to meet the 2030 agenda and ultimately benefit future generations”, he added. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)