Russian Energy Giant Wants to Privatize Georgian Power
Another aspect of the Georgia/South Ossetia/Russia conflict.
The new Russian imperialist agenda is based on electricity - electricity supply being vital for the people to have a normal life.
With U.S.-dominated NATO moving troops to Russia's borders, Moscow is countering by taking control of key infrastructure assets.
"Former Soviet states can't afford to ignore Russia's wishes," Weafer said. "At the end of the day, Russia can just turn the lights off. You can't run an electricity cable from Washington."
Russian Energy Giant Wants to Privatize Georgian Power
/ Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2004-07-22 21:45:42
The deputy chief of the Russian power giant United Energy Systems (UES) Andrei Rappoport told reporters after talks with the Georgian leadership on July 22 that the UES seeks to privatize power facilities in Georgia.
UES deputy chief met with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze and Energy Minister Nika Gilauri in Tbilisi on July 22.
Andrei Rappoport told reporters that the UES wants to buy power stations in Georgia, “especially” the countries largest hydro power plant at Enguri river, which lies on the administrative border with the breakaway Abkhazia.
However, Enguri hydro power station is not on the list of those 372 state-run enterprises which will be privatized by Georgia within the next two years. The list was published by the Georgian Economy Ministry on July 15.
“I am not so crazy yet to sell hydro power station, which is located in the conflict zone,” Georgian Economy Minster Kakha Bendukidze said at a news briefing on July 15.
However, the list includes five hydro power stations, which are located in the western Georgia, including Rioni, Shaori, Lajanuri, Gumati and Dzevruli hydro power plants with a total capacity of about 250 megawatts.
The Russian energy giant already owns 75% of shares of the Telasi company, which distributes electricity in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
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