Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 26 / Trend E. Ismailov /
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) as a result of the first two years of a three-year program of gasification of the 31st gas economy of Georgia will cover around 100,000 new subscribers, a source in the SOCAR Energy Georgia, which is SOCAR's subsidiary in Georgia, said on Friday.
In total, within the program it is planned to cover 150,000 new potential subscribers. Before the start of reconstruction works and gasification number of subscribers was 60,000.
According to the source, SOCAR is actively pursuing the reconstruction of distribution networks and gas supply to customers. According to the source, after summarizing the results of production, this figure could exceed 100,000. The remaining part of subscribers envisaged by the program will be covered within the third investment year.
According to forecasts, amount of investments within the three-year program of gasification will be about $100 million.
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.
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.
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.