Georgia said Friday it was trying to persuade Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom to reconsider its decision to more than double its price for gas supplies but would also seek to diversify its energy imports.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli told a Cabinet meeting that the sharp price rise was “political” because other ex-Sovite nation were paying far less. A day earlier, Georgia’s foreign minister said the new rate was the “price we pay for our choice” of a pro-Western path.
OAO Gazprom said Thursday it plans to charge Tbilisi $230 per 1,000 cubic meters for gas, compared with the $110 that it pays now, ratcheting up economic pressure against Moscow’s small southern neighbour.
Nogaideli pointed out that Ukraine got a price of $130 for next year and Armenia $110 and some Eropean Union nations paid less that $230, an apparent reference to the three Baltic states. He said that Georgian officials were talking to Gazprom to reduce the price it requested.
Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said that talks were taking place with Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey to secure alternative supplies of gas. Analysts in Georgia warned of a repeat of the gas war between Russia and Ukraine at the start of this year when Gazprom cut off supplies.
This stoppage, amid fierce negotiations over a higher price demanded by Gazprom, was seen as punishment for Ukraine’s pro-Western policies. It also briefly interrupted deliveries to Europe, sending lasting shock waves through the European Union nations already wary of overdependence on Russian energy supplies.
“Russia is increasing using the energy weapon for political reasons,” said Georgian political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze. “There is only one aim, to punish Georgia for its policy of integration with NATO and European structures.”
(AFX, 03/11/2006)