TBILISI, Georgia (AFX) - Georgia said Friday it was trying to persuade Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom to reconsider its decision to more than double its price for gas supplies, but would also seek to diversify its energy imports.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli told a Cabinet meeting that the sharp price rise was 'political' because other ex-Soviet nations were paying far less. A day earlier, Georgia's foreign minister said the new rate was 'the price we pay for our choice' of a pro-Western path.
OAO Gazprom said Thursday it plans to charge Tbilisi US$230 (euro180) per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, compared with the US$110 (euro86) that it pays now, ratcheting up economic pressure against Moscow's small southern neighbor.
Nogaideli pointed out that Ukraine got a price of US$130 (euro102) for next year and Armenia US$110 (euro86), and some European Union nations paid less than US$230 (euro180), an apparent reference to the three Baltic states. He said that Georgian officials were talking to Gazprom hoping to reduce the price it requested.
Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said that talks were taking place with Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey to secure alternative supplies of gas. Analysts in Georgia warned of a repeat of the gas war between Russia and Ukraine at the start of this year when Gazprom cut off supplies.
That stoppage, amid fierce negotiations over a higher price demanded by Gazprom, was seen as punishment for Ukraine's pro-Western policies. It also briefly interrupted deliveries to Europe, sending lasting shock waves through the European Union nations already wary of overdependence on Russian energy supplies.
'Russia is increasingly using the energy weapon for political reasons,' said Georgian political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze. 'There is only one aim, to punish Georgia for its policy of integration with NATO and European structures.'
Relations between Tbilisi and its former imperial master Moscow, have been frosty for several years because of the small Caucasus Mountain nation's decision to align itself with the West and seek membership of NATO and the European Union.
Ties suddenly worsened after Georgia detained four alleged Russian spies in late September and Russian authorities retaliated with a sweeping transport and postal blockade and a crackdown on Georgian businesses and migrants in Russia. The remittances they send home total hundreds of millions of dollars and are an important support for the struggling Georgian economy.
Georgia's efforts to obtain other gas supplies are fraught with difficulties.
Last month Azerbaijan said that it could not promise to start gas supplies to neighboring Georgia next year, because the oil-rich Caspian Sea state might need the gas for itself.
Iran could offer gas but this is unlikely to be at a price lower than Russia is proposing.
Last winter, after mysterious explosions shut down the pipeline network transporting Russian gas into Georgia for a week, Iran signed a temporary contract with the Georgians, but reportedly charged US$230 (euro180) per 1,000 cubic meters -- the same price Gazprom plans to charge.
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© 2006 AFX News
