Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 15 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
The agreement, signed between SOCAR and the Georgian government for a three-year program of gasification of the country, will be extended for another year, a source at SOCAR Energy Georgia told Trend.
This company represents SOCAR's interests in Georgia.
The source said the contract extension is the Georgian side's initiative.
According to the contract signed with the Georgian government, SOCAR Georgia Gas must gasify at least 150,000 new (potential) customers and invest in gasification of the country at least $ 40 million. However, it was revealed that investments will exceed this amount.
The source said the implementation term of the three-year program expires in February next year. It will be extended for another year in case of prolongation.
"Earlier, about 150,000 new subscribers were planned to cover within the three-year program," a source said. "This number will be increased to 170,000 after its prolongation."
He said that at present, the number of subscribers is 120,000 covered during the program implementation.
The gasification program includes 30 towns and over 100 villages.
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. These networks were exploited by 24 companies.
SOCAR Energy Georgia also received gas distribution networks of the Georgian district of Marneuli for using in April 2009. Marneuli is densely populated by Azerbaijanis.