TBILISI, Georgia, August 18. Georgia's hydroelectric power plants generated 5 billion kWh of electricity in the first half of 2023, which is 3 percent less year-on-year, Trend reports.
According to data published on the website of the Electricity Market Operator of Georgia (ESCO), approximately 70 percent of Georgia's total electricity demand is met by hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), 22 percent by thermal power plants (TPPs), 8 percent by imports, and 0.6 percent by wind farms.
Of particular importance for covering Georgia's electricity demand is the Inguri HPP, located in the west of the country and with an installed capacity of 1,300 MW. However, in the first half of 2023, generation at Inguri decreased by 12 percent to 1 billion kWh.
Electricity consumption decreased by 9 percent from January through June 2023 year-on-year, amounting to 6 kWh.
Galt & Taggart analytical company conducted a study, according to which the decrease in electricity consumption is due to the reduction in the manufacture of manganese ore and ferroalloys by Georgian Manganese, as well as the actions of metallurgical and mining companies. This is due to a decrease in demand and prices for their products.
This trend is expected to continue until the end of 2023. Georgia is gradually increasing its electricity consumption, and experts predict that by 2030 the country may face an energy deficit. The authorities are making efforts to utilize local renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on imports.
According to ESCO, Georgia consumed 14.8 billion kWh of electricity in 2022, up 3 percent year-on-year. And last year's electricity generation totaled 14.2 billion kWh, 12 percent more than in 2021. Due to the excess of consumption over generation, Georgia had to purchase electricity from neighboring countries, importing more than 1 billion kWh.