Daily News December 20, 2002	Days:  16 19 20 23 24

politics

PARLIAMENT FAILS TO WORK ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FALL SESSION

Parliament today failed to gather a quorum (or 118 votes) that is essential for the consideration of draft structural changes to the executive authorities and the budget-2003.

Pro-governmental factions, which have been boycotting for the second day, have been joined today by Socialists and part of majority MPs.

economics

GEORGIA HAS MINING INDUSTRY HIGH POTENTIAL, EXPERTS SAY

According to experts, Georgia has a high enough mineral-raw (gold, copper, manganese) potential, yet, the resources are not completely employed, reads the General Plan for Mining Industry Development, prepared with the assistance of JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency).

Today’s seminar at the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade considered the project on mining branch developing, on which the Georgian and the Japanese experts had worked for 2 years on end.




WHOLESALE ENERGY MARKET’S PROBLEMS THREATEN NEW ENERGY CRISIS

According to the Energy Wholesale Market, due to the distrain on the organization’s accounts and the lay-off of the financial operations the energy system might face a new crisis.

The Energy Market hopes the accounts will be blocked in the near future since otherwise it would be impossible to transfer funds for purchasing fuel for Tbilisi’s basic thermal power station (AES Mtkvari) and Tbilisi would be left without electricity by the New Year.




HEAVY SNOW CAUSES TRAFFIC PROBLEMS

The Department of Motorways reports, due to heavy snow in the Pasanauri-Kobi section of the Mtskheta-Kazbegi-Lars motorway no traffic with trailers and big buses are allowed. Traffic for other types of vehicles is permitted with special protective chains.

business

BAKU-TBILISI-ERZERUM GAS-MAIN CONSTRUCTION DUE TO START NEXT SUMMER

Project participants plan to sign in February next year an agreement on the gas-main construction, confirms the BP representation in Tbilisi. Rusudan Medzmariashvili, head of the Public Relations Department, said the construction would start in 5-6 months after signing the document.




DIGITAL TELEPHONE STATION INSTALLED IN GORI

Merab Kankava, the finance manager of Sakelectrokavshiri, said the digital telephone station for 10,000 subscribers in Gori (the Shida Kartli region) would open on December 21. He pointed out that the ceremony “by the request of the population had been arranged for Stalin’s birthday”.




NB TO SELL DUTCH MUSHROOMS-PRODUCING EQUIPMENT TO COVER THE OLD CREDIT

According to the National Bank (NB), on January 10, 2003 it will conduct an open disposal of Dalsem Veziap Dutch firm’s equipment, installed at JSC Soko-owned building on Rustavi road (suburbs of Tbilisi).

The equipment cost is 6.17 million EUR, while the NB is ready to consider various repayment mechanisms, including the long-term instalment selling, the leasing, etc.