2018-11-25
"Project for Natural Gas Supply to Highlander Adjara is a very important step of state magnitude, as it will enable us not only to avoid the reduction of population in mountainous Adjara, but on the contrary - it will let us increase it further and make this place more interesting for the development of tourism" stated Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia in Khichauri village today upon the completion of Phase One of Natural Gas Supply Project to Highlander Adjara.
Head of Government ignited fire from the main pipeline to mark the completion of Phase One of the Natural Gas Supply Project together with officials of the local authority. Prime Minister of Georgia addressed the residents gathered at the site and noted that this initiative will further facilitate greater development of tourism in mountainous Adjara.
"I have heard it many times that development of infrastructure is most important for the population of Adjarian Highlands and key priorities of locals always referred to natural gas supply. We have been waiting for this to happen for a long time and we demanded this to happen. I wish to thank everyone engaged in this project. By engineering point of view, it has turned out to be rather complex and difficult. I wish to express my gratitude to all the people participating in the process. It is a very important step of state magnitude, as it will enable us not only to avoid the reduction of population in mountainous Adjara, but on the contrary - it will let us increase it further and make this place more interesting for the development of tourism. This fascinating landscape we see now should become an all-year-round destination of recreation and natural gas supply is a pre-requisite for this. I wish to once again congratulate you all with this milestone and express my gratitude again to everyone - donor agencies included - that were assisting us in the implementation of the project. Phase Two has been budgeted at 30 MLN GEL and as I promised, our pipelines will reach Goderdzi Gorge by 2020 to supply natural gas to 15 000 households in addition to the current number of subscribers" added the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Phase One of Natural Gas Supply to Highlander Adjara covers villages from Salibauri through Khichaura. Pipes have been laid for 65 kilometers of the central pipeline. Project envisages supply of natural gas to 11 000 subscribers of Khelvachauri, Keda and Shuakhevi.
Construction of the natural gas pipeline is budgeted at 25 768 251 GEL. Construction works have been carried out by Energy Invest 2009 LDT. Project implementation started on October 17, 2017.
Phase Two of the Natural Gas Supply Project to Adjarian Highlands is being designed currently and envisages the construction of a main pipeline along Shuakhevi-Goderdzi Gordge with an estimated length of 54 kilometers. Project completion will benefit 15 200 subscribers in addition to the current beneficiaries.