EU Eyes Georgia For Caspian-Energy Transit

Piebalgs spoke today after a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili in Brussels.

He said he has received assurances from Tbilisi that Georgia will develop the necessary infrastructure.

"At this stage, I think the main focus for me and [Bezhuashvili] is the trans-Caspian [route]," Piebalgs said. "We are doing feasibility studies about trans-Caspian energy-supply routes. So, it is not directly touching Georgia, but indirectly, definitely, there is a huge correlation. If there will be more hydrocarbons passing via Baku, then, definitely, we will need increased capacities in Georgia."

Piebalgs noted that the European Union currently imports 28 percent of its oil and 29 percent of its gas from Russia.

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