OREANDA-NEWS. Completed by Calik Enerji in Georgia and having a capacity of 230 MW, Gardabani Natural Gas Combined Cycle Plant was opened with the participation of Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibasvili, Georgia's Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze, Turkish Republic's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz, Chairman of Calik Holding Ahmet Calik as well as many authorities from both countries.

During his speech in the opening ceremony, Georgia's Prime Minister Garibasvili stated that the plant was the biggest energy project realized in independent Georgia and that it would make great contributions to the energy market and the independence of the country. The Prime Minister completed his speech by saying, "We started the construction of this plant in January last year and completed it 3 months before the period indicated on the contract. I thank Calik Enerji for its successful operations. Thanks to this project, a new period has started for the energy life of Georgia."

Emphasizing the importance of natural gas cycle plant opened by Calik Enerji in Georgia, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said, "I believe that this project is a real example of success and that it is one of the keystones of the collaborations which we will realize with Georgia in the future. With this project and the other similar projects, our cooperation with Georgia is reinforced and becomes a model for the whole world."

During his speech, Chairman of Calik Holding Ahmet Calik indicated that the project corresponded to 8 percent of the total installed power of Georgia.

Stating that the plant would meet itself 15 percent of the electric demand of Georgia, Calik said, "We completed the project 3 months before the committed date with the operations of 920 Georgian and Turkish employees in total. Also our project boasts with using high technology and being one of the most environment-friendly projects of the world. We are very pleased with the increasing number of collaborations between Georgia and Turkey and with the fact that the relations between the two countries become stronger. In addition, as Calik Group, we continue our investments in the fields of hydroelectricity and wind power in Georgia."