Public Consultation of the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project

The Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE – the sole Georgian electricity transmission system operator) recently facilitated public consultations in Tbilisi and Zugdidi as part of the preliminary assessment for the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project. This initiative aims to establish a high-voltage underwater transmission network that will connect the electrical power grids of Georgia and Europe.

The consultations drew representatives from various sectors including government, private enterprises, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Noteworthy presentations were made by GSE representatives and experts from CESI. Among the speakers were Stefano Malgarotti, Director of Engineering Consulting, and Alessandro Crippa, Head of the Energy & Automation Competence Center. Their presentations offered an introduction to the project and provided an update on the ongoing feasibility study.

Discussions during the meetings, which took place on Tuesday in Tbilisi and Thursday in Zugdidi, focused on the methodologies for exploring the Black Sea seabed and the technical, environmental, and social considerations of the project.

Since 2022, the Georgian State Electrosystem has been conducting a technical-economic evaluation of the project, with financial support from the World Bank and in collaboration with Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.