Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb.15 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Georgia negotiates with Azerbaijan on the construction of an oil refinery, Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri said today at a governmental meeting.
According to him, the Georgian government creates a new investment fund which will finance large investment projects, including construction of oil refinery.
"In his report, the President pointed out that the state with close relations and coordination with the private sector seeks to implement several investment projects. I mean the construction of an oil refinery. We are holding consultations on the project with the Azerbaijani counterparts. Besides, it is planned to create logistics centers for the development of agriculture," Gilauri said.
However, he noted that currently the private sector can not independently take part in major projects.
"It is difficult for private sector to work on such a fund. The state will try to get the funds individually. We will create a new fund, and in principle it would be a partnership fund that will implement several projects. They include primarily agricultural logistics centers, second - energy security and the third - projects that the private sector will not be able to carry out on their own," Gilauri said.
An agreement will be signed with one of the companies on the development of the feasibility study until the end of the month, Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri told Trend.
"Oil and Gas Corporation of Georgia last year announced a tender, and the agreement will be concluded with the winner company," he said.
The minister said finances for the construction of oil refinery will be attracted from April 1, 2012.
"It will be as private and state investments," he said.
According to Khetaguri, oil will be supplied for oil refinery from Azerbaijan.
"It is our main and reliable partner and supplier. The commissioning of the oil refinery will allow us to provide people with jobs," he said.