Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 14 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili intends to ask the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic's (SOCAR) subsidiary SOCAR Georgia Gas to allow Georgian villagers to pay for their gas in installments.
"We need to negotiate with Azerbaijan," the president said in the run-up to his meeting with local residents in the region of Guria.
According to the president, the gasification of the province has been delayed as the population faces difficulties paying the required amount for natural gas, which is 300 lari (1.7025 lari is $1) per family.
"This problem should be solved. We must speak with the Azerbaijani side," he said.
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 late last month. These networks are operated by 24 companies. The sides also signed an agreement on gas deliveries for five years.
The initial minimum anticipated level of investment in the project was $40 million. Given the rehabilitation of distribution networks at this stage the cost for the gasification may be around $70-$80 million. Based on the first production year, the volume of investments was $23 million, and the second around $28 million.
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