In December 2021, Georgian power plants generated 1193 mln. kWh of electricity. This represents a 28% increase in total generation, compared to the previous year (in December 2020, the total generation was 930 mln. kWh). The increase in generation on a yearly basis comes from the increase of 55% and 4% in hydro power, and thermal power generation, respectively. Meanwhile, there was a 29% decrease in wind power generation.

In previous articles we have discussed the visible deterioration of Georgia’s energy security, where energy demand keeps increasing and the share of domestic energy sources in overall primary supply (the gross amount consumed by the country over one year) is declining. Reversing this trend requires the country to accelerate the pace that it develops domestic – and mostly renewable – energy generation capacity; ideally in combination with greater efforts to improve energy efficiency.

Recently, Geostat revised upward its real GDP growth for the third quarter of 2021 to 9.1% (by 0.1 ppt). The real GDP growth rate amounted to 12% year-on-year for November 2021. Consequently, the estimated real GDP growth for the first eleven months of 2021 was 10.7%.

During the last ten years, the Government of Georgia (GoG) has continuously subsidized grape, apple, and tangerine production throughout the country. Under the present tangerine subsidy program budget, 900 thousand GEL will be spent subsidizing ‘non-standard’ tangerines (relatively low-quality fruit). This subsidy program started on 25 November 2021 and will last until 1 February 2022.

We’re keeping to our traditions and have cooked up a New Year Supra Index for our readers once again this year. The Index identifies the average cost of a standard festive supra meal for a family of five to six people over every Georgian region.