Eastern Abkhazia may remain without power due to fall in water levels at Inguri HPP reservoir
SUKHUM. Dec 4 (Interfax) - The eastern regions of Abkhazia may face power outages due to a possible emergency shutdown of the Inguri Hydro Power Plant (HPP), with the energy deficit caused by the low water level in the HPP's reservoir, Chernomorenergo General Director Timur Dzhindzholia said at a meeting of the republic's energy security headquarters.
"In the current mode we are working in, this is not an emergency situation, but a critical one," he said.
Abkhazia has been forced to increase electricity purchases from Russia to stabilize the situation, he said.
Abkhazia may introduce a state of emergency in the energy sector, Acting Abkhaz Prime Minister Valery Bganba said at the headquarters meeting.
"The situation in Abkhazia's energy sector is currently critical. The water level in the Inguri HPP reservoir has dropped to a critical level. The HPP may shut down, and we will have to tighten the disconnection schedule and increase electricity purchases from Russia," he said.
Electricity consumption has increased by 1 billion kWh compared to 2016 levels, he said. "This is partly due to the ineffective fight against cryptocurrency mining. We need to strengthen the fight against mining by identifying the areas where the highest electricity consumption [is observed]. The law allows for the confiscation of equipment. If the situation does not improve, I will be forced to ask the acting president to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector," Bganba said.
Between 4 million and 5 million rubles are spent on 1 million kWh of electricity consumed by illegal mining farms, Acting Energy Minister Dzhansukh Nanba said.
"The situation remains difficult at the moment. The water level in the Inguri HPP reservoir has reached an emergency level. This means that we are dependent solely on the generation we receive from inflow, which today amounts to about 40 cubic meters per second," Nanba said.
Currently, the water level at the HPP dam has dropped below 410 meters, Dzhindzholia said. As much as 97%-98% of electricity consumption is due to domestic mining, which is prohibited in the republic, he said. "Mining equipment is located in houses which energy companies have limited access to, and it is harder to seize it there than in large farms outside houses," he said.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has seized 1,097 mining devices in 2024, Abkhaz Interior Minister Robert Kiut said. "A total of 1,112 facilities were inspected, including previously closed cryptocurrency mining farms. The police are constantly working to identify such farms. We have the appropriate technical systems, and as soon as we detect [them], we seize [the equipment]," he said. There are currently no large farms in the republic thanks to the actions of law enforcement agencies, he said.
A total of 700 million rubles were allocated in 2024 from the republic's budget to support Abkhazia's energy sector, with 425 million rubles earmarked for electricity imports from Russia, Finance Minister Vladimir Delba said.
As previously reported, Abkhazia has been purchasing electricity from Russia since November 1 due to the critical fall in water levels at the Inguri HPP reservoir and to cover its energy deficit. This refers to commercial supplies, with the price set at 4 rubles per 1 kWh.
The commercial supply from Russia was paid for in the amount of 510 million rubles on November 1, the Abkhaz presidential press service said. An additional 90 million rubles were allocated on November 27. The supplies were paid for until December 4.
Russia also supplies a certain amount of electricity to the republic for free every year. In 2024, the social transfer amounted to 302 million kWh, with the plan for 2025 set at 326 million kWh.
Power shortages in Abkhazia traditionally occur during the fall-winter period. The absence of central heating and gas supply in towns and districts puts the electricity infrastructure under increased pressure.
The Inguri HPP, which supplies Abkhazia, is located on the Abkhaz-Georgian border. Its hydropower units are on the Abkhaz side, while the dam is on the Georgian side. It is the only facility that is run jointly by Georgia and Abkhazia following the 1992-1993 armed conflict. A total of 60% of its generated electricity is consumed by Georgia and 40% is consumed by Abkhazia, in line with an agreement reached by the two sides.