Georgia says not to buy Russian gas until end of 2016

TBILISI, Apr 12 (PRIME) -- Georgia will buy no more natural gas from Russian gas giant Gazprom until the end of this year and will purchase the necessary volume from Azerbaijan, Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze told reporters on Wednesday.

“The agreement that was signed with Gazprom gives us a possibility not to depend on Russian gas… We are given the possibility to buy gas from Azerbaijan or Iran. As of today, we have decided to load fully with Azeri natural gas,” he said.

When the 2-year agreement with Gazprom expires, Georgia will have stronger positions, as a gas storage facility will be built giving the country a chance to become even less dependent on Russian gas, Kaladze said.

Azeri gas is currently the main source of gas supplies to Georgia.

Georgia has not been buying Russian gas since 2007. Until the end of last year, it received 10% of Russian gas supplies to Armenia as payment for transit. This deal between Georgia and Gazprom expired on January 1.

Talks over a new agreement were held in several stages, and as a result the 2-year agreement was signed, under which Gazprom will pay for gas transit both with money and gas in 2017 and only with money in 2018.

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