Kobakhidze announces expansion of energy agreements with Azerbaijan

“We approached the negotiations with the Azerbaijani side not as a standard dialogue between two states, but as a friendly conversation about common interests, and everywhere we have created ideal conditions, while equally taking into account the interests of both sides — this concerns both the import and transit of gas and electricity, as well as the operation of the Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa pipeline,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at a briefing in the Government Administration.

According to him, due to the suspension of the Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa pipeline, the state was losing tens of millions of lari in potential revenue, and after the resumption of its operation, the corresponding revenues will be directed to the state budget.

“In general, I can say that the volume guarantees we had have been increased. That is, the overall volume of guarantees has increased as a whole. You know that we have three main areas of agreements, including guaranteed gas from the Shah Deniz field and two additional agreements. In total, the volume guarantee has been increased. That is, we have received more guarantees than we had before, based on the signed agreements.

In general, this was our approach, which we discussed with our Azerbaijani friends: we approached the negotiations not as a standard interstate dialogue, but as an ordinary friendly conversation about common interests. We found optimal solutions on all issues — this concerns both the import and transit of gas, and the import and transit of electricity, where we also have ideal conditions and where the interests of both sides are equally taken into account.

As for Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa, you know that for three years the pipeline did not function at all, and the state was losing tens of millions of lari in potential revenue. Now its operation will be restored, and the corresponding revenues will go to the state budget,” the prime minister noted.

Source: Georgia Online