Today Gazprom’s Headquarters has hosted a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee and Zurab Nogaideli, Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia. The parties dealt with Russian gas supply to and transit via Georgia as well as cooperation deepening between Gazprom and Georgian energy firms.

The parties achieved accords to arrange for gas supply and transit over 2006 under existing commonly accepted international standards. Alexey Miller and Zurab Nogaideli agreed to set up a 50/50 Russian-Georgian joint venture for operating and developing the Georgian gas transmission network, with appropriate documents to be prepared and signed in the nearest future.

Reference:

Georgia does not produce gas and mainly imports it from Russia. The natural gas share in Georgia’s energy basket averages 24 per cent. In 2004, Gazexport, a Gazprom wholly owned subsidiary, supplied the Republic with 1.23 bcm of gas.

1.45 bcm is projected to be delivered over 2005. At present, Russian gas supplies to Georgia are paid up at an average of US $63 per 1,000 m?. The Georgian side is resolute to shortly settle its gas debt to Russia, which currently exceeds US $12 mln (penalties and fines inclusive).