ISET Economist Blog

10 October 2022

Ketevan Muradashvili, Elene Nikuradze, Mariam Tsulukidze

Water pollution in the Mtkvari River

Water quality has become a global concern in the twenty-first century. Data from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 suggests that only 56% of the world’s domestic wastewater is treated. However, the majority of countries (especially developing nations) do not gather water quality data on a regular basis.

12 September 2022

Aleksandra Shalibashvili, Tamar Mdzeluri, Mariam Tsulukidze

Lead contamination in Georgia – myth or fatal reality?

Lead contamination has been estimated to account for around 900,000 deaths per year worldwide (IHME, 2019). Typically developing countries suffer the most, where the use of lead in paint and other household products is often not fully regulated or controlled.

13 June 2022

Mariam Tsulukidze

Challenges and opportunities – making the Georgian energy sector more secure

During the Russia-Ukraine the EU has become a clear example of how substantial reliance on a single country to satisfy energy needs can threaten nations’ economic development, and how challenging the task of achieving energy security is while substantially depending on a single country in key energy products.

16 March 2022

Mariam Tsulukidze

Should Georgia worry about the dependence on Russian energy?

During such challenging times, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates daily and threatens the lives of thousands, as well as the wellbeing of everyone around the world, having experienced the horror of war, we Georgians especially feel the pain of the Ukrainians.

15 October 2021

Mariam Tsulukidze, Erekle Shubitidze, Goga Sukhashvili, Jemal Tsintsabadze, Khatia Tsaava

Desertification in Kakheti – a Threat to Kakhetian Agriculture?

Kakheti is one Georgian region that is economically dependent on agriculture. According to data from the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy 2021-2027, 40.1% of Georgia’s agricultural lands are within Kakheti, where its largest areas are arable lands, pastures, and vineyards, making it the leading region in the production of cereals, livestock, and wine. In 2020, wine production in Kakheti alone accounted for 75.5% of all the wine produced throughout the country.

03 May 2021

Norberto Pignatti, Guram Lobzhanidze, Mariam Tsulukidze

Namakhvani HPP – Threat or Opportunity?

The Namakhvani Hydropower Cascade is a system of two plants with a total capacity of 433 MW and a potential yearly generation of 1496 mln. kWh (around 13% of the total generation in 2020). The HPP has been designed for the river Rioni, to be built just 20 kilometers or so from Kutaisi, one of the largest cities in Georgia. The project is operated by the Norwegian Clean Energy Group, with 10% shares, and the Turkish industrial conglomerate, ENKA Insaat ve Sanayi AS, holding 90%.

ISET Economist Blog

A blog about economics in the South Caucasus financed within the institutional grant by the Government of Sweden.