Georgia will not buy additional amounts of natural gas from Russian Gazprom for 2016, Micheil Janelidze, minister for foreign affairs of Georgia said on Thursday.
The minister said that annual negotiations with Gazprom are conducted for the transit of natural gas from Russia to Armenia, through the Georgian-owned infrastructure, but as a result of the agreements reached with Azerbaijani Socar, there is no longer any need for buying additional amounts from Gazprom's exports to make up Georgia's deficit.
Even though a contract for additional supplies will be realized, Georgia will see the signing off of a continuation of a transit contract with Gazprom to allow the transit of gas to Armenia.
'This type of negotiation has been conducted every year, since 2004, as the transit contract is annual. At the same time, the negotiations included the possibility of supplies of natural gas needed for the coverage of the deficit, in case it is not possible through other sources,' Janelidze explained.
Janelidze said in a written statement that the goal of the Georgian government is to ensure the stable and uninterrupted supplies of natural gas, which was a problem due to the increased consumption in the country, over the winter period.
The agreement on the purchase of 500 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani natural gas for 2016 was reached and signed by Rovnag Abdullayev, the president of SOCAR, and Kakha Kaladze, energy minister of Georgia last Friday.
'To achieve this goal, the Georgian government conducted long and open negotiations, which have brought successful results,' Janelidze said adding that 'together with our friend and strategic partner - Azerbaijan – the means of supply of additional amounts of natural gas necessary for covering the deficit were found, on good terms.'
'With these agreements, the government of Georgia has ensured the best possible terms for the stable and uninterrupted supplies of gas and energy security for the country,' he said.
Supplies of Russian gas to Georgia have seen opposition from the public through recent protests.
SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state energy company, currently meets about 90 percent of Georgia’s natural gas demands.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
murat.temizer@aa.com.tr