(Tbilisi, July 17, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze requested today the government to brief MPs over the rumors concerning the possible deal between the Russian Unified Energy Systems (EES) and US company AES, which owns 75% of shares of the Tbilisi power distribution company Telasi.
Some opposition parties, including the Labor Party claims that the AES intends to sell its shares to the Russian energy giant.
“Telasi is a facility of the strategic importance and Georgia should not neglect the possible sale of its shares, especially when the Russian company might be involved in the deal,” the Parliamentary Chairperson said.
The US company denies rumors. “The only thing I know is that my two-year contract has expired and I will leave Georgia, while the company will continue to work in the country,” General Manager of AES Telasi Ignacio Iribarren said today.
The US company purchased Telasi shares in 1999. The 25% of shares are state-owned.