Page 45 - GEORptOct20

Azerbaijan also exports oil via Russia through the Baku-Novorossiisk pipeline and via Georgia by rail and through the Baku-Supsa pipeline.
Turkmenistan also historically exported some crude via the BTC. However, it switched its flows to a Russian port in 2019.
9.1.2​ Transport sector news
Ten stations on Tbilisi metro network to be refurbished with financial support of EBRD
Transit via Georgian ports and railways up in Jan-May
Ten stations of the Tbilisi metro network are to be renovated with the financial support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has announced. A tender for the project would be announced by the end of 2020, Kaladze added.
Metro station Gotsiridze was already being renovated under another project and work would soon commence on Varketili and Avlabari stations, the mayor said.
The EBRD and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the end of April provided a €75mn sovereign loan to modernise the metro network of Georgia’s capital city.
The loan will mainly be spent on the acquisition of 40 modern metro cars and on the modernisation of a depot and a tunnel.
The 10 stations to be renovated with EBRD and GCF backing are Guramishvili, Station Square, Sarajishvili, Marjanishvili, Freedom Square, 300 Aragveli, Rustaveli, Isani, Tsereteli and Nadzaladevi.
The total volume of cargo transported via Georgian maritime ports amounted to 15.5mn tonnes in January-May, up 3.3% y/y.
Also in the first five months of 2020, cargo turnover at the largest port in Georgia, Poti Port, amounted to 3.4mn tonnes, marking no change year on year.
As for Georgia’s rail network, the total amount of cargo transported was 4.6mn tonnes, up 9.5% from 2019.
Despite the increase in rail cargo turnover, Georgian Railways was in the first quarter hit by a significant loss.
According to the company's first-quarter financial statements, the group' s consolidated revenues in January-March increased by 23.7% to GEL122mn ($40mn), but the costs increased significantly, leaving the company with a loss of GEL163.5mn ($54mn) in the first quarter.
During the period, the company incurred a loss of GEL188.9mn due to exchange rate variations. This could not be offset by operating profit.
9.1.3​ Aviation sector news
Georgia has no plans for general resumption of flights until end of August but exceptions made for Paris, Riga and Munich
Georgia will generally permit the resumption of regular international flights from August 31, with exceptions allowing the routes to Paris, Riga and Munich to be restarted earlier in the month, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has announced.
Georgia’s Economy Minister Natia Turnava, meanwhile, noted that Georgian Airways would continue with charter flights as the country continued with its containment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, widely regarded as one of the more successful efforts around the world. Around 16 flights would be carried out by the airline in August from cities including Vienna and Amsterdam, she said.
Air France is set to carry out two flights per week starting from early August from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Tbilisi International Airport, while
45​ GEORGIA Country Report ​October 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com