The Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, delivered remarks on energy independence during a panel held within the framework of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations conference.

The panel featured participation from American congressmen, an Austrian Member of the European Parliament, and representatives of the Government of Serbia.

During his speech, Samkharadze noted that Georgia was among the first countries to be exposed to the use of energy resources as a political weapon. According to him, these developments began as early as the 1990s.

“We were among the first victims of the use of energy resources as a political weapon. This happened back in the 1990s when we had a conflict with the Russian Federation—Russia used its energy leverage against us and effectively blocked energy supplies to Georgia. Fortunately, however, we have an excellent neighbor—Azerbaijan”, - he stated during his remarks.

According to him, it was during that period that an important energy partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan was established.

“In the 1990s, the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan decided to join forces, as Azerbaijan had begun oil extraction in the Caspian Sea and needed alternative export routes that would bypass Russia”, - he said.

Speaking about future plans, Samkharadze noted that Georgia is rich in hydropower resources. He stated that over the next 10 years, the country plans to construct three major HPPs, which he said would triple electricity generation and strengthen the country’s energy independence.

“We are very rich in hydropower resources, and over the next ten years, we plan to build three large hydroelectric power plants in Georgia, which will triple and accelerate electricity generation in the country. We are also working on a very important project together with our Romanian, Hungarian, and Azerbaijani friends”, - Samkharadze added.