Georgia, Tbilisi, July 17 / Trend, N. Kirtzkhalia /
It will be difficult to convince "KazTransGas" to lower gas tariffs, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said at a press-conference today.
According to him, Georgia's embassy in Kazakhstan has not suspended its activity on lowering gas tariffs.
Kaladze informed that a Kazakh delegation will visit Georgia in the near future. Afterwards, the agreement reached on transferring "KazTransGas-Tbilisi" to Kazakhstan will be formalized.
"Relevant bodies work on restructuring of the debt which has accumulated in the company during that period," he added. "KazTransGas-Tbilisi" is a distributive company and it has a big debt. So, it will be difficult to convince it to lower the tariffs."
According to him, the Georgian government has not suspended working to decrease the debt.
Kazakh "KaztransGas" became the owner of "Tbilgazi" gas distribution company's shares after a victory on an investment rate in May, 2006. The investor paid $12.5 million for the company.
The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission appointed special manager to "KaztransGas-Tbilisi" in 2009. The reason was the company's 80 million lari ( 1 lari= $0.6) worth debt. Moreover, "KaztransGas-Tbilisi" ran into 68 million lari worth debt to the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation.
Currently, the parties hold negotiations to withdraw interim manager of "KaztransGas-Tbilisi" and to return its management to the Kazakh side.