Abkhazia experienced a 15% increase in electricity prices beginning April 1st in Sukhum. This tariff adjustment was initially scheduled for January, but the governing body postponed its implementation. The new rates now apply to households: individuals using single-phase connections will pay 2 roubles per kilowatt-hour (approximately $0.02), while those with three-phase connections will pay 2.7 roubles (around $0.03).
Business tariffs remain consistent. According to Timur Jinjolia, the director of state energy firm Chernomorenergo, electricity usage within abkhazia has decreased by roughly 500 million kWh compared to the peak demand of 2023, a period marked by illicit cryptocurrency mining. Consequently, the republic’s annual electricity shortfall has diminished, now estimated at 600-700 million kWh, a reduction from the previous 1.1-1.2 billion kWh observed three years earlier.
The Abkhazian Analytical Centre suggests a legislative approach, advocating for a law promoting energy efficiency and conservation to address the typical autumn and winter deficits. These shortages often occur due to reduced water levels at the Ingur hydropower plant, impacting electricity generation. This winter, abkhazia avoided blackouts thanks to electricity imports from Russia, with the government purchasing some supplies at market rates and receiving the remainder as complimentary humanitarian assistance.
Jinjolia noted that Inguri plant water levels have now normalized, enabling full operational capacity. Therefore, abkhazia will be entirely powered by domestically produced electricity starting April.
Topics: #abkhazia #electricity #rise
