Page 66 - GEORptSep21

Georgia’s electricity consumption down 5.5% in 2020
Tbilisi Energy supplies gas to around 1.5mn people and 18,000 commercial users.
Electricity generation and consumption in Georgia dropped by 5.8% and 5.5%, respectively, in 2020, in line with lower economic activity. According to the Georgian electricity market operator "Esco", total generation last year amounted to 11.16 TWh, equivalent to 5.8% less than in 2019, when total output was 11.86 TWh.
Production decreased particularly at the county's hydropower plants, which account for the largest part of total generation.
The amount of electricity generated by Georgia's thermal power plants edged down by less than 1% to 2.82TWh. In the case of the hydropower plants, the reduction was measured at nearly 7.7% for a total of 8.25 TWh, accounting for nearly 70% of the electricity generation.
The electricity generated by the Kartli wind farm increased from 84.7mn kWh to 90.8mn kWh year on year, amounting to 0.8% of total generation. Electricity consumption decreased by 5.5% to 12.41 TWh, down from 13.15 TWh in 2019.
9.1.14 Defence sector news
Georgia outlines defence procurement priorities for next decade
The Georgian government has revealed its defence procurement priorities up to 2030. They include the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and new artillery systems, and a revitalisation of the country's defence housing infrastructure.
At a ceremony for the release of the Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Forces 2020–30 on July 22, Minister of Defense Juansher Burchuladze revealed that the country would be acquiring additional Javelin anti-tank missiles in 2021 from the US. Negotiations are also under way with Polish and South African companies to establish joint ventures (JVs) in the country with the Ministry of Defence (MoD)-owned company Delta STC in 2022. The JVs would be established to manufacture small and large UAVs in the country as part of efforts to bolster intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
Georgia will also be regenerating its artillery capabilities from 2024, including the procurement of mortar systems from local companies, and acquiring other artillery systems from other countries. Delta STC displayed a 120 mm mortar carrier variant of its Didgori vehicle at the IDEX 2019 trade show, with the company noting at the time that it was in line for a “significant” contract with the Georgian MoD.
9.1.15 E-commerce sector news
Georgia e-commerce market more than tripled in 2020 report says
E-commerce in Georgia increased more than threefold year-on-year in 2020 to nearly $45mn, a Galt&Taggart report states.
The report summary reads as follows:
"The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted Georgia’s e-commerce market, as lockdowns encouraged many to purchase online for the first time or increase the frequency of online purchases. The lockdowns also forced Georgian companies to expand their online offerings.
The size of the local e-commerce market increased 3.2x y/y to GEL 137.9mn in 2020, with its share in total (local and cross-border) up from 11% in 2018 to 23% in 2020, according to our estimates. However, the e-commerce penetration rate in Georgia is very low at 1.1% of retail sales, far
66 GEORGIA Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com