Georgian Economy Minister: Georgia aims for complete electricity self-sufficiency by 2036

Georgia aims to make its electricity sector fully self-sufficient by 2036, Mariam Kvrivishvili, the minister of economy and sustainable development of Georgia, on Tuesday said at the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council in Baku.

Addressing the high-level ministerial meeting, Kvrivishvili stressed that energy security remained a top priority for Georgia.

“Energy security remains a top priority for Georgia. We have adopted a comprehensive long-term strategy for the development of the energy sector, supported by a ten-year action plan. Our goal is clear - by 2036, Georgia’s electricity sector should become fully self-sufficient”, she said.

The minister outlined Georgia’s ambitious plans to expand generation capacity, stating that installed capacity was expected to increase 2.5 times to approximately 11,500 megawatts.

According to her, this growth will be driven by new power generation facilities and large-scale investments in transmission infrastructure, including new cross-border interconnections.

Kvrivishvili highlighted that the transformation of the sector would reduce electricity imports to zero while strengthening Georgia’s position as a regional transit and export hub.

She also identified two major regional flagship initiatives.

“I would like to highlight two regional flagship projects: the Black Sea submarine cable will connect Georgia and Romania with a 1,300-megawatt underwater transmission line, enabling the export of clean electricity to Europe. In parallel, together with Azerbaijan, Romania, and Hungary, we are developing a Green Energy Corridor that includes a large-scale electricity interconnector and a green hydrogen component. These projects are not merely infrastructure - they represent our shared commitment to diversification, decarbonisation, and long-term sustainability”, Kvrivishvili noted.

The minister emphasised that renewable energy forms the backbone of Georgia’s long-term strategy. Over the next decade, the country plans to add more than 6,700 megawatts of renewable capacity, including hydropower, wind, and solar energy.

Strategic hydropower projects, she said, would be critical for maintaining system stability and integrating variable renewable sources.

The minister also noted ongoing reforms aimed at improving the investment climate and introducing innovative technologies.

“We are also carrying out significant reforms to improve the investment environment. At the same time, we are actively introducing innovation. With the support of the Asian Development Bank, we are advancing energy storage technologies and hydrogen solutions, as well as integrating smart and digital technologies into our energy system. The success of the Southern Gas Corridor project once again highlights the importance of joint efforts by states in developing international projects of such significance”, Kvrivishvili concluded.