The Head of State stressed that the emergency situation in electric power industry has developed over a long period. President spoke about the key processes in the energy sector in recent years. So, according to him, in April 2016, there was  signed an agreement between UKS RA and EnergosetProekt LLC, according to which EnergosetProekt was to develop a document “Schemes and plans for the long-term development of the RA energy sector”. There were allocated 55 million 300 thousand rubles in 2016 investment program for the document's preparation. The Abkhaz side prepared a technical assignment, which indicated all the key energy problems. And today this document is in "Chernomorenergo", but it was never approved either by the Ministry of Economy or by the government.

“In accordance with this document it was necessary to invest 9.7 billion rubles in the period from 2017 to 2021 and in the future until 2026. And it is necessary to invest 11 billion rubles for normal functioning of high-voltage networks with a voltage of 35 kilovolts and above,”  President explained.

However, from 2017 to present, only 862 million rubles have been invested in the energy sector, about 215 million rubles per year.

“The rest of the money was not found, and the state did not have the opportunity to change the volume of investments. If we move at such a pace, then we need 97 years to invest almost 21 billion rubles in the energy sector. This approach has neither relevance nor prospects, " the head of state stressed.

Aslan Bzhania said that the Cabinet of Ministers held negotiations with the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, as a result of which more than 20 energy specialists arrived in Abkhazia in August 2020 and they updated the document on energy system development.

“Seeing the emergency situation, we had to understand what priority measures need to be taken in order for the energy sector to work at least in an accident-free mode, not to mention growth and development prospects. A group of specialists prepared a report on a technical audit of electrical equipment of 35 kV and higher substations, power lines, as well as the dynamics of consumption of electric power by Chernomorenergo. In order to work in a trouble-free mode, we need to invest 4.7 billion rubles in the near future, " Bzhania explained.

President noted that there will be taken a serious step  in this direction in the near future, namely, overhaul of the key high-voltage line "Achguara". There has already been prepared a letter to the Russian Federation, according to which adjustments will be made to the Investment Program 2021 in order to raise funds for the repair of this line.

Also, the head of state noted that for a systemic solution, one cannot do without raising the electricity tariff. He recalled that the tariff for electricity has not been increased since 2012 and also noted the problem of low collection of electricity payments. President named the lack of metering devices as one of the reasons for the low payments collection. The cost of such devices with the possibility of remote power outage is about 18 thousand rubles, and the country needs about 90 thousand devices, which will cost about two billion rubles.

“As practice shows, they pay more and save more where are devices. These are interconnected things, ” Bzhania said.

 At the same time, President emphasized that it is necessary to develop a methodology in accordance with which a technically and economically feasible tariff for electricity will be established.

“The corresponding order has already been given to the government, the document is already ready in draft form and I am sure that it will be adopted in the first half of 2021. There is a systemic crisis in the energy sector. There is approximately the same picture. The state of the networks is dilapidated. Only 7 can work out of 42 substations with a voltage class of 35 kilovolts and higher in normal mode, especially in winter,” President said.

Aslan Bzhania also noted that the energy issue could become a topic for political speculation.

“We understand that a lot is connected with this. Citizens do not like the fact that there is no electricity, this topic can shake the political situation, undermining the reputation of many leaders, which is what some comrades are planning to do in order to earn political dividends. We can see all this, but it will not solve the problem. We need a calm and prudent approach, ” the head of the republic stressed.