Georgia, Tbilisi, Baku / Trend , corr. N. Kirtskhalia/ Georgia's Energy Minister, Nikalas Gilauri, has stated that during the special briefing held at the first pumping station of SCP (South-Caucasian Gas Pipeline) based in the Georgian eastern city of Gardabani, Azerbaijani's share of gas in Georgia's energy system reached 2.3 mln. cu.m of gas. This means that Russia has lost Georgia's main energy carrier exporter to Azerbaijan, Trend Correspondent to Tbilisi reports. The Georgian Energy Minister emphasized in particular that Georgia could receive an alternative gas source and that at present the country did not fully depend only on one source.
Georgia is receiving 1 mln. cu.m of gas via SCP per day, and some 1.3 mln. cu.m via an old gas pipeline from the domestic reserves of "Azerigaz" CJSC. Georgia receives about 0.8 mln. cu.m of gas a day from Russia's energy giant "SazProm" in the form of payment for the Russian gas transit to Armenia. " Russia is supplying Georgia directly with 2.4 - 2.5 mln. cu.m," said the Georgian Minister. According to him, Georgia's requirements in gas during the winter is 5.5 - 5.6 mln. cu.m a day.
Mr. Gilauri noted that Azerbaijan supplying Georgia with gas at a volume of 1.3 mln. cu.m. would last until 1 April, though negotiations to extend the contract are currently underway. "At the same time, other wells on the Azerbaijani offshore gas condensate field of "Shah Daniz" will be developed soon, and therefore, the share of gas that Georgia will receive from Azerbaijan will grow similarly.