Report Evaluates Three Key Development Programs in Serbia
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CAPTION: From left: Mehmet Henefi Toremis (Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation), Sulkhan Zumburidze (Georgia State Electrosystem), and Marlen Askerov (AzerEnergy) shake hands after signing an MOU to create the Power Bridge Project. |
On April 8, 2009, representatives from AzerEnergy, Georgia State Electrosystem, the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation, and the U.S. Energy Association (USEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), creating the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge Project. The partnership brings the three countries together to discuss regional energy policy and develop models for the region’s high voltage networks.
The MOU was signed by Marlen Askerov, Vice President of AzerEnergy; Sulkhan Zumburidze, Georgia State Electrosystem; Mehmet Hanefi Toremis, Deputy General Manager of the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation; and Barry Worthington, Executive Director of the U.S. Energy Association (USEA). U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft and Georgia’s Minister of Energy Alexander Khetaguri witnessed the signing. USAID representatives also attended the ceremony.
The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge project is a joint venture funded by the USAID. Under the project, USAID and the USEA are collaborating to provide financial and technical assistance for training and information exchanges. These two partners will work with AzerEnergy, Georgia State Electrosystem, and the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation to analyze the high voltage networks in the three countries to identify future investments required to support electricity trade and exchange, while optimizing overall system security and reliability.
“This project has the potential to have a strong impact on Georgia and the Georgian economy,” remarked Georgian Minister of Energy Khetaguri. “Ultimately, Georgia wants to sell green hydropower to EU countries. After working together on the oil and gas pipelines, our three countries are in a better position to solve our regional energy issues.”
This project marks the first time since the completion of the oil and gas pipelines that these three countries have come together formally to discuss regional energy matters.
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