Recent blackout highlights Georgia's reliance on Enguri hydropower plant, Roman Gotsiridze

Georgian economist and former head of the country’s national bank, Roman Gotsiridze, on Friday said the recent nationwide power outage had exposed the country's heavy dependence on the Enguri hydropower plant, arguing that energy security had become a matter of national security.

Speaking to Front News, Gotsiridze said Georgia's energy system is highly vulnerable because the Enguri dam and reservoir are located in Georgian government-controlled territory, while the power station itself is situated in the Russian-controlled breakaway region of Abkhazia.

"Without Enguri, Georgia's energy sector practically does not exist," he said, adding that the arrangement leaves a critical part of the country's energy infrastructure outside Tbilisi's control.

Gotsiridze said solar and wind power projects are important but cannot provide the grid-balancing capabilities offered by large regulating hydropower plants. He argued that projects such as Khudoni, Namakhvani and Nenskra were needed to strengthen Georgia's energy security.

Referring to Thursday night's nationwide blackout, Gotsiridze said it was likely caused by an accident but warned that, in his view, similar disruptions could also be deliberately triggered by an occupying power.

He also criticised the ruling Georgian Dream government, saying strategic energy projects had effectively been halted after investors withdrew from the Khudoni, Namakhvani and Nenskra hydropower projects, leaving Georgia vulnerable.

"Power plants are not only economic projects. They are the foundation of energy independence, system resilience and national security," Gotsiridze said.

A large-scale power outage affected Georgia overnight, temporarily disrupting electricity supply across the country. The outage also halted the operation of pumping stations run by Georgian Water and Powers (GWP) and caused temporary disruptions to mobile communications and internet access.