Georgia to Increase Natural Gas Imports from Russia by 25% in 2016

Next year Georgia plans to increase the volume of natural gas it imports from Russia by 25.2% against 2015 up to 250.5 mcm, reported Interfax-Azerbaijan.

According to the natural gas balance for 2016 approved by the Georgian Energy Ministry, it plans to import 65.9 mcm of commercial gas from Russia. Georgia will receive 184.6 million cub.m. (down from 7.7%) from Russian gas transit to Armenia, for which Georgia gets 10% in volume.

Georgia’s natural gas balance for 2016 is set for 2.423 bcm, up 0.8% against 2015.

In particular, Georgia plans to receive 2,156,800,000 cub.m. (decline by 1.8%) from Azerbaijan, which is the main gas supplier to the republic. From the Shah Deniz project it is planned to receive 802.7 mcm (growth by 12.7%) and the remaining volume (1.354 bcm) will be supplied by SOCAR.

Georgia’s own production of natural gas is planned to be 15.6 mcm, two times higher, than this year.

In 2016 the republic is forecast to consume 2.405 bcm. (growth by 0.7%).

In particular, the so-called social gas will total 1.422 bcm (growth by 7.1%). Of this volume it is planned to use 622 mcm (reduction by 4.3%) for generation of power at thermal power stations and 800.5 mcm (growth by 18.1%) to supply population with gas.

The commercial gas supplied to the plants and organizations is planned to total 982.4 mcm, down 8.7% against 2015.

The losses during gas transportation are estimated at 18 mcm against 15 million cub.m. this year.

Georgia’s natural gas balance for 2015 totals 2.4 bcm, up 15.3% against a year earlier, of which 200 mcm (down 3.2% against 2014) was planned to be received from Russia.