SOCAR plans to increase gas supply to Georgia

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan intends to bring the level of gas supply to Georgia to 82 percent, Mahir Mammadov, director general of SOCAR Energy Georgia company told Trend.

In accordance with the agreement signed with Georgian government, SOCAR Georgia Gas (subsidiary of SOCAR Energy Georgia) was supposed to supply gas at least to 150,000 new (prospective) users and invest at least $40 million in this process.

However, the period of validity of the gas supply program was extended, as the volume of investments exceeded the previously planned amount.

“The process of gas supply to Georgia continues. Currently, a new 3-year investment program is in force,” said Mammadov.

“Our operating activities cover 90 percent of Georgia’s territory, albeit it is only 45-48 percent on the customer base,” he added.

“To date, the gas supply level of Georgia is 65-67 percent for real customers and 73-74 percent for prospective customers,” he said, adding that it is a very high figure.

Earlier, SOCAR Georgia Gas said that it is planned to increase the number of users in Georgia to 480,000 by late 2015.

SOCAR and the Georgian government signed an agreement to transfer control of 30 gas distribution facilities and gas distribution networks covering such regions of Georgia as Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida and Kvemo Kartli, Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Samegrelo on December 26, 2008.

The list of gas distribution facilities was then expanded. Earlier, all these facilities were eliminated and seven regional gas facilities were created under SOCAR. (Trend.az)