Abkhazia May Demand Fresh Energy Distribution Balance With Georgia – Paper

Breakaway Abkhazia may demand striking a fresh balance with Georgia in terms of the distribution of the energy generated by the Inguri hydro-electric power plant, a Georgian newspaper has said. According to the current agreement, some 60 per cent of the energy is utilized by Georgia and the remaining 40 per cent by Abkhazia. Energy expert Davit Ebralidze notes that Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia has increased the region’s “appetite” and that if Abkhazia indeed demands a larger share of energy from the Inguri plant, it would pose “serious problems” to Georgia. He adds that Georgia has no “leverage” with which to counteract the threat and that even if Georgia tried to stop the dam, it would prove more harmful for Georgia, who has no other energy means, than for Abkhazia, who would be supplied by alternative energy from Russia. The following is the text of the report by Lili Khmaladze in the privately-owned Georgian newspaper Rezonansi on 26 September headlined “Bagapsh: “Georgians have no rights whatsoever to the Inguri hydro-energy power plant”; subheadings inserted editorially:

The energy company of the separatist [Abkhaz] government [as given] Chernomorenergo is demanding a revision of the agreement on the distribution of the energy elaborated by the Inguri hydro- electric power plant. [Currently] the Georgian side receives 60 per cent of the energy and [the remaining] 40 per cent [is utilized by] Abkhazia.

“We are receiving less energy than the Georgians do. It was sufficient for us when enterprises were not operating and people were the main users. We believe [Russia's] recognition of [Abkhazia's] sovereignty will get enterprises working and we will be needing more energy,” the company says.

Georgians’ right for power plant questioned

De facto [Abkhaz] president Sergey Bagapsh further specified the separatists’ demands. He said that the Inguri hydro-electric power plant completely belongs to Abkhazia and Georgia should not have any claims to it at all.

“The Inguri hydro-electric power plant has always been ours. Georgia has no rights whatsoever to it. During any kind of talks it will be us who will dictate the conditions,” Bagapsh said.

However, in an interview with the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta [newspaper], separatist foreign minister Sergey Shamba expressed a slightly different view, saying that Sukhumi is not calling for any revision [of the power distribution balance] at the moment.

“At this stage everything will remain as it is. Georgian specialists continue to work at the plant,” Shamba said.

Expert in economic issues Revaz Arveladze says that one part of the Inguri plant is stationed on Georgian-controlled territory and another part on the Abkhaz-controlled area. The water which generates energy belongs to Georgia. The overall projected production of the Inguri plant cascade amounts to 5, 5 billion KWh yearly. Of this, the basic plant generates about 4 billion and another, Vardnilhesi hydro-electric power plant, stationed in Gali [District] – nearly one billion KWh.

Official Tbilisi receives 60 per cent or 3, 3 billion KWh of the generated energy. On the whole, Georgia needs a total of eight billion KWh yearly. That is to say, from the Inguri plant Georgia receives about 40 per cent of the energy it actually needs.

Alteration of the conditions of the distribution between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides of the energy generated by the Inguri plant will naturally cause significant problems. In conditions of the approaching winter this is particularly urgent. Most importantly, experts say that the separatist authorities have now all leverage to establish full control over the Inguri plant.

Davit Ebralidze considers that Abkhazia’s revision of the terms of the plant utilization is a political, as much as an economic step which will inflict great damage to Georgia. However, unfortunately, our country has no levers to counteract it especially given that Russia is standing behind it.

[Davit Ebralidze] As a matter of fact, there was an agreement. It was signed couple of years ago and stipulated that Abkhazia would receive 40 per cent of the energy and the remaining part would go to Georgia. Given the current state of affairs, Abkhazia’s appetite has certainly increased. It demands a fresh balance.

They have the means to demand it. To a certain extent, this is a matter of political pressure too. I could say that it will create a serious problem for us. The Inguri plant is the key resource in Georgia’s energy balance.

The question is who has more rights to demand a larger share of the energy generated by the plant. But then, having rights has to do with levers, that is, the levers Abkhazia and Georgia have. The fact that the dam of the Inguri plant is on the Georgian-controlled territory and the remaining [part] is in Abkhazia does not mean that both sides enjoy the same rights. Abkhazia has an alternative source of energy as it can receive energy from Russia while, unfortunately, Georgia has no other source of energy.

If it comes to the crunch and Abkhazia emphatically raises the issue, Georgia will not be able to withstand the demand. Therefore, I think in this regard the situation is going to deteriorate in the country. The Abkhaz have an influence on the means of the [energy] generation on their territory and therefore they are controlling them themselves. Now it could be said that they have further strengthened their positions since the Russians are controlling the territory. The Abkhaz have more power and can exert a greater pressure on Georgia under the circumstances.

Georgia has no levers against Abkhaz demand

[Rezonansi] Does Georgia have any levers against Abkhazia at the moment?

[Davit Ebralidze] The unfortunate fact is that Georgia possesses no real levers. Having a lever would be for Georgia to stop the dam and Abkhazia would not be able to receive energy either. However, this would prove to be more problematic for Georgia than for Abkhazia. Russia will try to provide Abkhazia with alternative energy while, as I told you, Georgia has no other source of energy. Therefore, as far as the issue is concerned, our country cannot act freely.

[Rezonansi] How would you assess the two conflicting statements Abkhazia has made [presumably referring to the statements made by Bagapsh and Shamba, mentioned earlier in the report]?

[Davit Ebralidze] Even though the territory, where the dam is stationed, currently belongs to Georgia, the Abkhaz will voice claims to it in the future. Not only the lower part of the Inguri, but the territory of the dam too, will be on their territory. If it comes to the crunch, it is strength that decides things and the Abkhaz might occupy the territory too.

[Rezonansi] Is this only an economic decision? Why did the issue come to the forefront precisely at this moment?

[Davit Ebralidze] The decision is both economic and political. Of course, this is an instance of serious political pressure on our country. Georgia could find itself in an extremely difficult situation. The point is that certainly Russia is doing all this and uses Abkhazia in this so that the international community does not think that the Russians are destroying the Georgian economy too. This is already predation carried out against our country.

Originally published by Rezonansi, Tbilisi, in Georgian 26 Sep 08, p 2.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Central Asia. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.