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ISET Economist Blog

A blog about economics in the South Caucasus.
Jun
07

Managing Organic Waste Optimally – the Current Trends and Potential Solutions for Georgia

  As waste accumulation keeps expanding, it increasingly poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. Waste can be the source of many diseases, it emits large amounts of methane (a potent greenhouse gas), and exacerbates global warming. According to World Bank estimates, without urgent intervention, the current levels of global waste will increase by 70% by 2050. Graph 1. Global waste generation outlook by region 2016-2050 Proper management though can substantially mitigate the issues associated with waste. When discussing optim...
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May
03

Namakhvani HPP – Threat or Opportunity?

  INTRODUCTION The Namakhvani Hydropower Cascade is a system of two plants with a total capacity of 433 MW and potential yearly generation of 1496 mln. kWh (around 13% of the total generation in 2020). The HPP has been designed for the river Rioni, to be built just 20 kilometers or so from Kutaisi, one of the largest cities in Georgia. The project is operated by the Norwegian Clean Energy Group, with 10% shares, and the Turkish industrial conglomerate, ENKA Insaat ve Sanayi AS, holding 90%. It is also linked to a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PP...
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Mar
15

How Can Georgia Deal with its Plastic Waste?

In the modern world, plastic waste recycling has become one of the more crucial activities to combat environmental degradation. The plastic pollution portal from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights that every year around 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced globally. Historically, 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled and 12% incinerated, with the remaining 79% going to landfills. Plastic is now truly found worldwide, including within our very food and water, and it is already negatively impacting both wildlife...
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Dec
28

Enguri HPP Is Closing While Demand on Abkhazia’s Side Keeps Growing: Challenges and Opportunities for The Georgia’s Electricity Sector at the Beginning Of 2021

According to the last four years’ data, Georgia has a chronic electricity deficit in ten months out of twelve, with the country showing an electricity surplus only in May and June (and, occasionally, in April and/or July). Despite the COVID-19 crisis dampening electricity demand in the country, 2020 was no exception. After two months - May and June - characterized by a positive generation-consumption gap, starting from July 2020 Georgia has been generating less electricity than required to cover consumption. To fill this deficit, Georgia imported energy ...
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Dec
07

COVID-19 – A Threat but Also an Opportunity for More Decisive Actions Against Climate Change

Covid-19 has exposed many countries to severe healthcare and economic crises, which have disproportionally adversely affected the most vulnerable and low-income parts of society. The current pandemic crisis, however, has also brought some interesting opportunities to light. For example, it has shown that relatively quick change is possible, as the unfolding of the COVID pandemic led to significant changes in working practices and individual behaviors, leading to dramatic reductions in greenhouse emissions around the world. Building on these experiences, ...
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