Page 48 - GEORptSep19

generate losses of approximately $60mn per year for the state budget. Green Alternative said it based its calculations on a leaked document.
Its assessment contradicts claims of the government and the project’s private developer JSC Nenskra. They have long maintained that the 280 MW hydropower plant is essential to Georgia’s energy security, arguing it would provide the country with considerably cheaper electricity.
Georgia is to initiate the privatisation of the 20MW Gori wind farm in four to six weeks, Economy Minister Natia Turnava said on June 19 in comments on the country’s privatisation plans.
The plant was commissioned in the autumn of 2016. It has an installed capacity of 20.7MWh and has involved investments worth $34mn. Its annual capacity is 84.1GWh.
Turnava said that certain assets belonging to the state are difficult to sell since special advance preparations are required. The wind farm located in Shida Kartli (Qartli) region, is among such assets, she added.
The wind farm’s financial liabilities towards the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) make the privatisation procedures relatively complex, the minister added.
The EBRD arranged a $22mn syndicated loan to Qartli Windfarm LLC (the operator of Gori wind farm) for the development, construction and operation of the wind farm, providing a $10mn tranche itself. The remainder of the investment capital, besides the $22mn, was provided by the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF).
9.1.9 Defence sector news
Georgia will from July 27 host the Agile Spirit 2019 multinational exercise involving over 3,000 soldiers from the 14 Nato member states and allies, Georgia Today reported . T he drill will begin at the base of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of Senaki, Western Georgia and will also take place at the Orpolo and Vaziani fire ranges.
The Ministry of Defence of Georgia reported that the major aim of the exercise was to enhance interoperability between the participating countries, bring more sophisticatation to operational capabilities and strengthen planning and executing operations within the multinational environment, while also contributing to the maintenance of stability and security across the Black Sea Region.
“Strength through Partnership” has been set as the main message of the initiative.
The countries, participating in Agile Spirit 2019 are: Georgia, UK, US, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Norway, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as Romania.
It is the ninth time that Georgia has hosted the exercise. It is to be led by the country’s defence ministry and the United States European Command.
48 GEORGIA Country Report September 2019 www.intellinews.com