Tbilisi, Georgia - High winds knock out electricity - Blackout affects entire country

RBC.ru via PROMT translation ^ | January 26, 2006

[HAL9000]

Practically all Georgia has remained without an electricity

The new misfortune has fallen upon Georgia. As a result of failure on LEP "Imeretia" practically all country has remained without an electricity. Now the power supply system of the country works in an extreme mode. As have informed RBC in the Ministry of fuel and power of Georgia, failure has occured today approximately at 1:00 Moscow time. Under the preliminary information, because of a strong wind the transmission line "Imeretia" connecting power supply systems on which the electric power acts from the Western Georgia in central and east regions of the country has failed. Other transmission lines have simultaneously failed also, and also there was an emergency switching-off of 9-th power unit of the Tbilisi state district power station, belonging Russian Open Society " UES of Russia ".

The Ninth block develops 220 MVt the electric power for Tbilisi. Now on the power unit regenerative works which will borrow not less than two days are spent. Experts of the Tbilisi state district power station try to involve 4-th block which work has been stopped because of failure on LEP "Kavkasioni" in Karachaevo-Circassia on January, 22nd 2006a. According to the Russian experts, restoration "Kavkasioni" on which the Russian electric power acted to Georgia, will come to the end in 10 days.

At present from the Western Georgia ("eiao?e-hydroelectric power station") in east and central regions of the country acts on reserve LEP only 100 MVt the electric power though in the Western Georgia its surplus is observed. Power supply of Tbilisi is limited up to 350 MVt. As to deliveries of gas, today, as well as in the evening on January, 25th, gas from Azerbaijan moves in the reduced quantity - in volume 2 million cubic metre day, or nearby 85 thousand cubic metre at an o'clock.

Switching-off of power supplies in Georgia has occured extremely at the wrong time. In the country very low temperature for region was established. In the disconnected Tbilisi has become cold up to-6 degrees on Celsius, and in area Kazbegskom strong frosts - in the afternoon about 20 degrees below zero, and at night - up to a minus 30 in general are observed.

Failure on LEP together with bad weather have partially paralysed work of the Georgian railway. So, because of absence of the electric power on the night of January, 26th movement between the Western and East Georgia has been stopped, have informed RBC in Department of a railway transportation of the country. Now regenerative works are conducted. Besides there have added, that a strong wind on site zugdidi-oiae obvalil on a cloth of the railway support LEP because of what at some o'clock movement of the trains following from Batumi and poti has been stopped.

According to experts, such strong wind in this region of Georgia it was not observed since 1969.

We Shall remind, that on January, 22nd on Northern Caucasus two main gas mains on which gas acted to Georgia have been blown up. Subsequently experts have found out components of explosives on a place of explosions. On preliminary data, their general capacity has made nearby 800 gram of trotyl. Repair work proceed in a continuous mode the fifth day. Georgia has hastened to accuse of diversion on gas mains the Russian special services. Foreign policy department of this country has distributed the application in which it is spoken, that explosions officers of the Main intelligence service (GRU) armed forces of the Russian Federation Anatoly Sysoyev and have arranged the Novel Briskly. Russia in the answer asks the Georgian authorities to stop a hysterics and attacks to the Russian militarians. " The desire to search for external enemies for the justification of own feebleness in adjustment of a normal life of the country never before in what good did not result ", - is emphasized in the application the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.