Thu 19 November 2009 | 06:48 GMT Text size:

Mikheil Saakashvili

SOCAR has begun supplying gas to Zugdidi city in Georgia’s west.

On November 18 this event was widely celebrated in the city with participation of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The president congratulated Zugdidi residents and thanked Azerbaijan for fraternal support, stressing importance of the Azeri-Georgian friendship and further joint effective activity. “President Ilham Aliyev has always kept his promise and supported us in hard times. Today’s event is a real proof. Georgian people will never forget that”, Saakashvili said.

Chief of SOCAR’s Georgia office Mahir Mamedov told reporters that under the contract concluded with Georgia’s Economic Development Ministry last year, 150,000 new subscribers will be supplied with natural gas in three years. 57,000 subscribers have been supplied with natural gas today. He noted that the gas line to the central quarter of Zugdidi has been laid and thanks to this, 1,100 subscribers will get gas. 3,500 families will be supplied with gas in the nearest future as well.

Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri voiced satisfaction with SOCAR’s activity to improve the social state of the country’s population and said the company has successfully fulfilled the tasks set before it.

Local residents thanked Azeri President Ilham Aliyev for fraternal support.

Azertag