Anaklia deep-sea port launch likely to be delayed again, opposition politician

The launch of Georgia’s Anaklia deep-sea port in western Georgia is likely to be postponed once more, opposition politician Roman Gotsiridze said on Wednesday, who has called on the government to take responsibility for the setback.

Gotsiridze stressed the authorities should urgently announce a new tender for the construction of the port, arguing that recent efforts to secure Chinese investment have effectively failed.

He further noted Georgian delegation returned from China without reaching any concrete agreement on the Anaklia project. He also claimed that the economy minister did not meet representatives of the selected company during the visit, and that discussions with Chinese officials remained general rather than focused on finalising investment terms.

“The reality today is either accepting onerous Chinese conditions or seeking a new investor,” he said.

Gotsiridze criticised what he described as unacceptable demands from the Chinese state-linked company involved in the project. Among the key concerns he highlighted were financial guarantees, under which the investor is reportedly seeking government-backed coverage for loans used to finance construction, extending beyond credit risk to include potential losses such as delays or insufficient returns. He also pointed to cargo guarantees, which would require the government to compensate the investor if cargo volumes fall below agreed levels.

He warned that such commitments could expose the state to liabilities far exceeding the reported $300m equity contribution expected from the Chinese side, potentially reaching several billion dollars when factoring in lost revenue.

The opposition figure also raised concerns about the company’s reported sanctioned status, arguing that this could complicate Georgia’s relations with Western partners. He added that the participation of a state-owned entity may contradict the original tender conditions.

Gotsiridze said the Chinese side appeared unwilling to revise its demands, leaving the process stalled. “They are in no hurry, while we are losing valuable time,” he noted, pointing out that two years after the announcement of a winning bidder, the project has yet to make tangible progress.

He warned against proceeding without a credible international investor, saying Georgia lacks the capacity to independently deliver and operate a project of such scale. Without experienced partners, he argued, the port risks becoming an economically unviable “white elephant”.

Gotsiridze also referenced the case of the Namakhvani Hydropower Plant, where arbitration led to compensation far exceeding the investor’s initial expenditure, as an example of potential financial exposure.