Moscow. 26 January 2006. RAO "UES of Russia" increased threefold its current electricity supplies to Georgia's energy system affected by the blasts at the Kavkasioni transmission line and gas pipeline linking Russia and Georgia, and by the bad weather which damaged the Imereti high-voltage line from the Inguri HPP to the eastern and central parts of Georgia.

Currently, power supply has been discontinued to consumers in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi, except for the socially important facilities. The electricity shortfall in Georgia's capital currently makes 350 MW.

In this situation, RAO "UES of Russia" has been able to ensure the maximum possible level of power supplies from Russia to Georgia. So, power of up to 80 MW is delivered via the Salkhino transmission line, with another 20-25 MW supplied via the Daryali line.

Previously, the basic energy supplies from Russia made 30 MW. This means that the overall electricity supplies from Russia currently exceed by 70 MW the amounts of electricity supplied before the explosions at the Kavkasioni transmission line on 22 January, reaching the maximum transfer capacity possible for the existing power lines.

Besides, RAO UESR subsidiaries, ZAO "INTER RAO UES" and AO "Telasi", have reached an agreement with AO "Azerenergy" to resume electricity supplies from Azerbaijan. The maximum power supplies may reach up to 100 MW.

Within one day, INTER RAO UES is expected to restart Power Unit No. 8 (which it owns) at the Tbilisskaya TPP, which will supply Georgia with another 250 MW.

In order to increase electricity supplies from Russia, work was accelerated to restore the pylons of the Kavkasioni line destroyed by the blasts. Taking into account the work already done, the restoration of the power line will take another 9 days. The cost of work will make about RUB15 million.