Georgian, Turkish PMs discuss electricity supply to Europe via Turkey

Strategic joint projects were discussed during a meeting of the prime ministers of Turkey and Georgia in Istanbul, Trend reports.

They discussed the strategically important projects for the construction of the Batumi-Kars-Akhalkalaki railway and the Borchkha-Akhaltsikhe power transmission line, Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri told journalists on Tuesday following the meeting with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting was held during Gilauri's participation in the World Economic Forum.

"These are very important regional projects. The railway construction is moving at a good pace with the assistance of Azerbaijan. We are moving forward and the Georgian section of the railway will be completed soon and the closest route between Asia and Europe achieved," he said.

Gilauri stressed that Georgia is also important in the construction of the Borchkha-Akhaltsikhe transmission line through which the country will begin to supply electricity to Turkey and from there on to Europe.

"We intend to dramatically increase electricity production and supply clean energy to Europe through Turkey. This year we have already started construction of 15 hydropower plants, and by 2015 electricity production will double in Georgia," he said.