Abkhaz PM says 1.5-bln-ruble loan for Abkhaz energy sector's development being negotiated with Russia

SUKHUM. Jan 24 (Interfax) - The Abkhaz administration is in talks with Russia on a 1.5-billion-ruble infrastructural loan for the development of the Abkhaz energy sector, Abkhaz Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab said.

Ankvab said at a meeting at the Abkhaz presidential administration that only 200 million rubles had been assigned for the energy sector in 2023, which, in his opinion, was not enough.

"We are negotiating a 1.5-billion-ruble infrastructural loan with the Russian side in order to develop the energy sector," he said.

The Abkhaz energy sector needs repairs of transmission and distribution networks, strict accounting of electricity consumption and high collection of payments, Ankvab said.

"Abkhazia will be unable to create full-scale energy infrastructure in the foreseeable future without investment," he said.

According to Ankvab, Abkhazia invested 566.4 million rubles in the energy sector in 2022.