Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the government is launching a new phase in its energy policy, starting from scratch. Responding to a question from BMG, he explained that the previous mechanism of direct contracting, which had been reinstated in recent years, was flawed and required a complete revision. According to Kobakhidze, the state must now present a new and transparent vision for the energy sector that aligns with both national interests and the needs of private investors.
The statement followed the publication of a government decree on October 13, which suspended discussions on dozens of energy projects that lacked finalized investment agreements or memorandums. These projects, totaling around 1.7 GWT, were initiated under the Direct Contracts Agreement Program. Many of them were reviewed during the tenure of former Deputy Minister of Economy Romeo Mikautadze, who has since been charged with corruption. The suspended list includes a range of hydro, solar, and wind power projects, some of which were launched during the leadership of former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili.
Kobakhidze emphasized that the new approach aims to eliminate previous “wrong practices” and establish a transparent system that ensures fairness and efficiency in the energy sector. “We are starting from scratch with a new approach to conduct an energy policy that will be maximally acceptable, both for the country and for private companies involved in the sector. This step to halt ongoing processes serves the purpose of reviewing the overall energy policy,” the Prime Minister said, stressing that all actions will serve the broader goal of ensuring Georgia’s energy self-sufficiency.
When asked about the government’s stance on major hydropower projects, Kobakhidze stated that initiatives such as Nenskra, Khudoni, and Namakhvani HPPs remain important and will receive support. However, he clarified that the private sector will play the leading role, with potential for mixed public-private partnerships. “We will pay maximum attention to the successful implementation of the revised energy policy, including the major projects you mentioned. You will see news in this direction very soon,” Kobakhidze noted.
