Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey energy bridge to help Georgia to export its electricity to Europe

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 9 / Trend E. Kosolapova/

The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge will help Georgia to export its electricity to Europe, Deputy Energy Minister Marika Valishvili told Trend by phone.

"We construct transmission lines to promote trade," Valishvili said.

Georgia is interested in electricity exports to Europe, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Vera Kobalia told journalists in Sofia earlier.

According to Valishvili, Georgia will complete work on transmission lines construction within Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Energy Bridge by late 2012.

Georgia is constructing several hydro power stations, which can give additional 1,500 megawatt.

According to Valishvili, these hydro power stations will permit Georgia to completely cover domestic electrical consumption and export electricity abroad.

Due to many mountain rivers Georgia has electricity excess in spring - autumn, however experiences electricity in winter. Georgia compensates this deficit with electricity produced by thermoelectric power station.

"In future we will export large electricity volumes from spring to autumn and small volumes in winter," Valishvili said.

According to Valishvili, Georgia have already exported small volumes of electricity to European country of Serbia in August. Large Electrical quantities will be exported from Georgia to Europe in 3-5 years.