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The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 24 2004
New Russia-Iran line to cross Georgia
RAO-UES promises more light for Tbilisi during the winter
By Anna Arzanova
RAO UES of Russia, which owns Tbilisi electricity distribution
company Telasi, announced on Monday that it is planning to finance
the construction of an electricity transmission line through Georgia
that will connect Russia with Iran.
Speaking in Tbilisi on Monday, Deputy Chair of RAO UES and Chair of
the board of directors of Telasi Andrei Rappoport stated further that
RAO UES is ready to increase the supply of electricity to Georgia
during the winter period.
Rappoport said that RAO UES intends further investments in Georgia as
part of its synchronization of the energy systems of Russia, Georgia,
Armenia and Iran. This has been made necessary by negotiations
between Russia and Iran, which intend to create a joint energy
sphere.
"If we conduct parallel work with Iran we will need to work on the
Armenia-Georgia and Georgia-Azerbaijan electricity networks, RAO UES
is also ready to build a transmission line from Georgia to Turkey,
although before doing so it will be necessary to ascertain Turkey's
energy requirements," Rappoport said.
While in Tbilisi, Rappoport met with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. "I
asked Rappoport to stay in Tbilisi in order to better discuss issues
regarding Tbilisi's electricity supply," Zhvania told journalists,
adding: "I do not expect any problems from RAO UES."
At the meeting it was agreed that RAO UES will increase Georgia's
electricity imports by 100-150 megawatts.
"We discussed how to fulfill the agreement and what we should do to
ensure that the electricity supply this winter is relatively stable,"
said Rappoport, adding that both sides had up until now fulfilled all
obligations previously agreed upon, and that payment for the
increased imports was also discussed.
The main reason for Rappoport's visit to Tbilisi, however, was to
participate in a supervisory board meeting of the joint
Georgian-Russian venture Sakrusenergo, as well as to review its
readiness for the upcoming winter.
Rappoport expressed his dissatisfaction with the financial situation
of the company, saying that he thinks that the reason for this is the
management's excessive obedience to the Georgian government.
"I demanded that the supervisory board make stronger decisions than
before in connection to relations with the Georgian Ministry of
Energy," Rappoport told journalists after the session.
He said he was also dissatisfied with the non-payment of employees'
salaries for the past seven months, saying that credits have been
offered to them as a diversion to ignore the unpaid debts of nearly
47 million.
Rappoport plans major changes in Sakrusenergo and said there would be
a serious shake-up in the company's management before the next
board's meeting on December 10. The chair of Sakrusenergo's
supervisory board has already made one change to personnel,
appointing former premier of Tbilisi Gia Sheradze as his personal
advisor. "I invited him to the Sakrusenergo meeting as my advisor,"
he told journalists.
Sheradze said that they would examine Sakrusenergo's current
problems, saying, "I think that in the next two weeks we will be in a
position to makes decisions."
Nov 24 2004
New Russia-Iran line to cross Georgia
RAO-UES promises more light for Tbilisi during the winter
By Anna Arzanova
RAO UES of Russia, which owns Tbilisi electricity distribution
company Telasi, announced on Monday that it is planning to finance
the construction of an electricity transmission line through Georgia
that will connect Russia with Iran.
Speaking in Tbilisi on Monday, Deputy Chair of RAO UES and Chair of
the board of directors of Telasi Andrei Rappoport stated further that
RAO UES is ready to increase the supply of electricity to Georgia
during the winter period.
Rappoport said that RAO UES intends further investments in Georgia as
part of its synchronization of the energy systems of Russia, Georgia,
Armenia and Iran. This has been made necessary by negotiations
between Russia and Iran, which intend to create a joint energy
sphere.
"If we conduct parallel work with Iran we will need to work on the
Armenia-Georgia and Georgia-Azerbaijan electricity networks, RAO UES
is also ready to build a transmission line from Georgia to Turkey,
although before doing so it will be necessary to ascertain Turkey's
energy requirements," Rappoport said.
While in Tbilisi, Rappoport met with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. "I
asked Rappoport to stay in Tbilisi in order to better discuss issues
regarding Tbilisi's electricity supply," Zhvania told journalists,
adding: "I do not expect any problems from RAO UES."
At the meeting it was agreed that RAO UES will increase Georgia's
electricity imports by 100-150 megawatts.
"We discussed how to fulfill the agreement and what we should do to
ensure that the electricity supply this winter is relatively stable,"
said Rappoport, adding that both sides had up until now fulfilled all
obligations previously agreed upon, and that payment for the
increased imports was also discussed.
The main reason for Rappoport's visit to Tbilisi, however, was to
participate in a supervisory board meeting of the joint
Georgian-Russian venture Sakrusenergo, as well as to review its
readiness for the upcoming winter.
Rappoport expressed his dissatisfaction with the financial situation
of the company, saying that he thinks that the reason for this is the
management's excessive obedience to the Georgian government.
"I demanded that the supervisory board make stronger decisions than
before in connection to relations with the Georgian Ministry of
Energy," Rappoport told journalists after the session.
He said he was also dissatisfied with the non-payment of employees'
salaries for the past seven months, saying that credits have been
offered to them as a diversion to ignore the unpaid debts of nearly
47 million.
Rappoport plans major changes in Sakrusenergo and said there would be
a serious shake-up in the company's management before the next
board's meeting on December 10. The chair of Sakrusenergo's
supervisory board has already made one change to personnel,
appointing former premier of Tbilisi Gia Sheradze as his personal
advisor. "I invited him to the Sakrusenergo meeting as my advisor,"
he told journalists.
Sheradze said that they would examine Sakrusenergo's current
problems, saying, "I think that in the next two weeks we will be in a
position to makes decisions."