TBILISI, November 30 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - The increase in the Russian natural gas price will not affect Georgian consumers, Georgian Fuel and Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said Wednesday.
"The increase in the gas price from $63 to $110 since January 2006 will not affect Georgian consumers," he said.
The 2006 state budget will allocate $10 million to maintain the price level for consumers in January-March 2006 following the increase, the minister added.
Gilauri said the difference could also be covered by raising tariffs for transit of Russian gas to neighboring Armenia.
Next week a Georgian government delegation headed by Gilauri is set to visit Moscow. The delegation will make a deal on 2006 gas supplies with Russia's energy giant Gazprom, and set up a Russian-Georgian joint venture for fuel imports to the republic.
