According to the Georgian Electricity Market Operator (ESCO), in the first two months of 2021, Georgia purchased 827.8 mln kWh electricity. The main suppliers are Russia (521 mln kWh), and Azerbaijan (299.7 mln), with Azerbaijan's share having increased by 16.7%.
Georgia bought the most portion of power from Azerbaijan the previous year: more specifically, 45% (726 mln kWh) of total imports were carried out from Azerbaijan. Georgia has to pay the highest rates (5 cents per kWh) for Azerbaijan's electricity. The country paid a total of USD 36,397,260 last year. Georgia imported 313,100,000 kWh electricity from Turkey and paid USD 13,564,140 (3 cents per kWh). Russia had the same tariffs as Turkey in 2020 (3 cents per kWh). Georgia purchased a total of 570,600,000 kWh electricity from Russia and paid USD 14,553,200 for the purchased amount.
Georgia has worked on the diversification of electricity import sources over the years. According to Minister of Economy Natia Turnava, Georgia is now more energy independent than it was in 2012 when 90% of power was imported from Russia. As the Minister of Economy claims, the Georgian Dream government's efforts resulted in Azerbaijan becoming the country's main power source.
Opposition parties have alleged, however, that power imports from Azerbaijan are politically motivated, as its tariffs are high. As they claim, Azerbaijan has become a top importer as this plays into someone's hands in the government.
However, Mrs. Turnava defines these indictments as baseless, saying that authorities or their relatives are not anyhow connected to power imports to Georgia.