Power interruption for non-payment causes minor hiccup (418 words)

Published: 5/8/2001

On 3rd May, according to David Sharabidze, spokesman for Georgian aircraft producer, OOO Tbilaviasheni (TAM), the local utility, AES-Telasi, stopped supplying the plant with power. Sharabidze said he is expecting power to be restored by 9th May, or possibly earlier, as soon as the Georgian Ministry of Finance makes a scheduled payment to TAM. The Ministry makes monthly payments relating to state debts of $12m to TAM, but Sharabidzde claims that, this month, it failed to make the payment. According to TAM, the debt owed to AES-Telasi is less than $100,000. The interruption of power will delay slightly the overhaul of the two Turkmenistan Su-25s: part of a contract to overhaul aircraft to offset Georgian debts to Turkmenistan, for gas supplied in the 1990s. The plant overhauled 12 aircraft in 2000 and was scheduled to overhaul the further 12 aircraft in 2001 at a cost of $1m per aircraft, according to Sharabidze. These form part of the 42 Su-25s reported to be in storage in Turkmenistan at the end of 1999. In addition to overhauling the Su-25, TAM is continuing with the upgrade to Su-25T standard with Elbit avionics, in conjunction with Sukhoi. On 18th April 2001, the first aircraft made its maiden flight. Vazha Tordia, General Director of TAM, observed that the upgrade - being conducted under the agreement concluded last year - might be of interest to Russia, as part an offset deal for Georgian debt. Any such decision is pending sub intergovernmental discussions, following a proposal, made by Georgia earlier this year, for 13 aircraft from air frames at the Tiblisi facility. Sharabidze confirmed that TAM is reviewing the production of the drone Blue Horizon-2 for aerial reconnaissance. The 71 kg drone performance has a ceiling of 5,940m, with a range of range 200km at a speed of 242km/hr with a flight duration of 17 hours. The drone has been recommended to the Georgian border guards, and it is unclear whether funding will be available. As a result of the Turkmenistan work, the plant is in relatively good condition, compared with other Georgian industries and the workforce is paid regularly, at a rate above the median level of $100 a month. The company is also planning to commence work in conjunction with Canada's Kelowna Flightcraft, for the production of the stretched cargo Convair 5800, converted from ex-USAF Convair 340/440s and has 30 technicians currently under training at Kelowna's base in British Columbia.

Article ID: 2521