The founder of Mestia-based Hotel Paliani, Eka Gvelesiani, believes the government's decision to introduce large-scale electricity metering across the region is misguided and that the issue of illegal cryptocurrency mining should be addressed through enforcement rather than measures affecting the broader population.
Speaking to BM.GE, Gvelesiani argued that it is unfair to impose new restrictions on local residents because of the actions of illegal miners. She noted that Svaneti has already borne significant costs from hydropower development projects in the past, including the displacement of some residents.
According to Gvelesiani, businesses are unlikely to be directly affected by the changes, as commercial operators are already metered and pay for electricity consumption. However, she said the reform is likely to generate dissatisfaction among residents who have traditionally received electricity free of charge.
She also suggested that expanding the region’s energy infrastructure, particularly through gasification, would be a more effective solution. In her view, access to natural gas would help reduce electricity consumption for heating while addressing a long-standing infrastructure need in the region.
