Power Sector and Energy Security
The energy efficiency bill is to revise our energy policy and strategy. Besides energy supply, we should now ensure energy efficient consumption too, Murman Margvelashvili, founder of International Experience Georgia told Business Partner.
Several days ago, private and public sectors discussed energy efficiency and buildings energy efficiency bills that call for reducing energy costs by 147 million EUR by 2021-2022. However, business sector seems to be cautious because the planned power saving measures require additional financial resources.
The bills are to revise energy policy and strategy of Georgia and generate new opportunities for economic activity. Previously, we made accent on energy supply and ignored energy-efficient consumption aspects, Murman Margvelashvili said.
This bill will aline Georgia with the emerging and developed countries practicing the same regulations in terms of energy supply and energy efficient consumption, Margvelashvili noted.
“Georgia was an exception so far. There is one important aspect: measures for energy efficient consumption should comprise power saving, energy efficient equipment, buildings insulation and so on. This is the whole spectrum of major economic activities that generate new employment opportunities and grows knowledge. Thanks to these measures, Georgia will spare energy costs essentially.
This year we buy 10% of consumed energy abroad and we spend serious finances on that. We will make accents on sparing these funds and developing new directions of business industry. Those with very efficient production or excessive power consumptiopn should restructure their economy, because in reality the price of energy is covered by us and our costs rise, when we import electricity from abroad”, Margvelashvili noted.
The initiated bill do not comprises heavy imperative obligations for business, but introduces certain fines. Therefore, business sector must engage in the discussion process, but private sector should remain unbiased in assessments, following the state interests, Margvelashvili noted.
„Only obligation is that major companies that consume excessive power must hold energy audits to explore how much energy they use or manage and what measures should be taken to lower this volume. Independent certified auditors should show cost saving measures. Business sector should engage in this process.
‘This engagement is to grow their awareness first of all, they should read legislation and appraise measures that are subjected to fines. Business engagement should be unbiased and just and they should treat the state interests as their own interests”, Margvelashvili said.