Azerbaijan, Baku, June 22 / Trend , E. Ismayilov/
SOCAR Energy Georgia (SOCAR subsidiary) which owns 31 gas supply grids in Georgia has selected five companies to build new grids and overhaul old ones, SOCAR Energy Director Mahir Mammadov said. Thirteen companies appealed earlier.
"Five companies for five regions covered by grids have been selected. Four of them are Georgian and one is Azerbaijani [Neftqazstroy]," Mammadov said. The Azerbaijani company will implement the work in areas populated by Azerbaijani communities.
Mammadov said the selected companies have experience in these regions. Therefore, they were given preference.
Design work as a part of the first phase to increase the subscribers of these gas distribution networks were performed by the Georgian company and "the selected companies has already begun to work," he said.
Within the year the company plans to increase the number of subscribers of gas distribution networks by 56,000 compared to the current 60,000. In the first phase, the number of subscribers will increase by 15,000 and relevant construction and modernization will gradually be implemented.
Mammadov said the company plans to increase number of subscribers by150,000 in total.
The average daily consumption of gas by distribution networks operated by SOCAR is 5-6 million cubic meters of gas. In general, these networks consume 60-70 million cubic meters of fuel per year. On average, per user account for about 1000 cubic meters of gas a year, Mammadov said earlier.
On Dec. 26, SOCAR and the Georgian Government signed an agreement to operate 30 gas supply grids and gas distribution networks in the Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida and Kvemo Kartli, Ajaria, Guria, Imereti, Samegrelo regions of Georgia. These networks are operated by 24 companies.
The total investment in the project is $40 million. The amount of invested funds exceeded $3 million. These funds were invested to purchase metal and plastic pipes. Certain infrastructure work have been done in Ajaria (gas supply to Ajaria began in mid-2008), design work and etc. has been carried out, Mammadov said
In April, SOCAR Energy Georgia acquired a gas distribution network in the Marneuli region populated by Azerbaijani community. Marneuli has 31 gas supply grids operated by SOCAR Georgia.
Mammadov said the company is studying distribution networks, infrastructure and staff potential.
Gas distribution networks in Marneuli were previously owned Wissol, which bought gas from SOCAR and was selling it in Marneuli. Now the whole cycle of works in this direction will be implemented by SOCAR Energy Georgia
40-million investment program covers purchase, development and management of distribution networks.
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