Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb. 27 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
Georgian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakha Kaladze reviewed an electric substation at Akhaltsikhe (South Georgia) and acquainted himself with the Black Sea Network project.
The project has already been completed in Georgia and according to available information the work in Turkey is also nearing completion. Afterwards, the substation at Akhaltsikhe will be put into operation.
Turkey is in the process of accession to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which may give Georgia the opportunity of cooperation with European countries in electricity export-import in future.
As a part of the project, Georgia built 292 kilometres long transmission facilities. Georgia is the first country in the Caucasus, where a direct current switching unit was installed within the project.
The Black Sea Transmission Network was launched on May 3, 2011. The State Electric System of Georgia and its subsidiary Energotrans were involved in the work. Construction within the project was carried out by Siemens Austria AG and a direct current switching unit was installed by Siemens Germany.
The cost of the 500/400-220 kV substation at Akhaltsikhe and the direct current switching unit was 158.8 million euros. The EBRD has allocated 80 million euros for project implementation, the European Investment Bank - 80 million euros, KFW - 100 million euros, Georgian government - 53 million euros and NIF (EU) eight million euros.
According to the ministry, the Black Sea Transmission Network will provide greater stability of the Georgian energy system, reduce electricity losses and ensure the transit of electricity from neighbouring countries.