This policy brief addresses risks tied to Russian business ownership in Georgia. The concentration of this ownership in critical sectors such as electricity and communications makes Georgia vulnerable to risks of political influence, corruption, economic manipulation, espionage, sabotage, and sanctions evasion. To minimize these risks, it is recommended to establish a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening mechanism for Russia-originating investments, acknowledge the risks in national security documents, and implement a critical infrastructure reform.
In October 2023, Georgian power plants generated 1,043 mln. kWh of electricity. This represents a 1% increase in the total generation compared to the previous year (in October 2022, the total generation was 1,034 mln. kWh). The rise in the generation on a yearly basis comes from an increase in thermal power generation by 179%, while the generation of wind and hydro power plants decreased by 11% and 30%, respectively.
Dr. André de Palma, a distinguished Professor at CY Cergy Paris Université, THEMA, recently presented a seminar at ISET on the “Impact of low emission zones on spatial and economic inequalities using a dynamic transport simulator.” His presentation addressed the critical issue of air pollution – estimated to have caused 311,000 premature deaths in the EU in 2023, with associated costs reaching €224 billion or 1.4% of GDP.
In September 2023, Georgian power plants generated 1,118 mln. kWh of electricity. This represents a 6% decrease in the total generation compared to the previous year (in September 2022, the total generation was 1,194 mln. kWh). The fall in generation on a yearly basis comes from a decrease of 7% in hydro and thermal power generation by 7% and 5%, respectively, while the generation of wind power plants increased by 10%.
On 18 October, Tamar Sulukhia, Director of the ISET Policy Institute, took part in a panel discussion dedicated to the launch of the Systemic Country Diagnostic (SCD) Update for Georgia during an event organized by the World Bank. The report, entitled “Georgia: Keeping the Reform Momentum”, provides a comprehensive analysis of the developmental challenges and opportunities that the country requires to accelerate progress toward a reduction in poverty alongside shared prosperity in a sustainable manner.