Georgia Suffers Another Setback to Providing Energy

MOSCOW, Jan. 26 – Energy shortages struck Georgia anew today as a wind storm toppled a major power transmission line and Russia’s gas monopoly failed to restore natural gas flow to the country following the acts of sabotage last weekend, energy officials said.

The latest problem appeared at about 1 a.m., when high winds severed a high-voltage transmission line that carries electricity between east and west Georgia, plunging the snow-covered capital, Tbilisi, into blackness.
The blackout occurred as temperatures in the normally balmy nation fell below 20 degrees, and most of the population remained without natural gas for heat. Weather forecasts predicted unusually cold weather into next week, with temperatures at night dropping to as low as 12 degrees.

Georgia has been without its Russian gas supply, and with limited electricity, for five days. Officials in both countries were initially hopeful that the supplies could be swiftly restored, but after a brief respite from the shortages on Monday, the problems have worsened, bringing fresh hardships to Georgia and further tarnishing Russia’s image as an energy supplier.

New York Times