BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1
Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
In 2020, new hydroelectric power plants built over the past 10 years generated 1.6 billion kWh. electricity, which is 15 percent of the total energy consumption of Georgia, Trend reports referring to the Georgian media.
With regard to electricity production, new hydroelectric power plants account for 20 percent of all energy generation.
This figure roughly corresponds to the volume of imports - in particular, in 2020, imports of electricity amounted to 1.6 billion kWh. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of energy imports decreased from 4.8 to 4 cents per kWh, respectively, if in 2019 $78.2 million were paid for imports, then in 2020 - $64.5 million.
Even at these prices, thanks to the new hydropower plants, Georgia has saved $68 million in energy imports.
In addition, in 2020, due to a decrease in consumption, generation at new hydroelectric power plants decreased by 15-20 percent, respectively, in a normal situation, production at them will amount to 1.7 billion, and at least 1.9 billion kWh.
Currently, Georgia uses only 20-25 percent of its hydropower potential.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356