The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey power bridge, which will enable those countries to trade electricity, will begin operation this year, Azerenergy President Etibar Pirverdiyev told journalists on Wednesday.

"The electricity transmission line from Mingechevir in Azerbaijan to the Georgian border is fully ready," Pirverdiyev said. "Work at the Georgian-Turkish board is continuing. According to our schedule, the power bridge will be ready soon," he said.

Azerenergy, Georgian State Electric System and Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the power bridge project in Tbilisi in April 2009. 

In September of that year, Georgian State Electric System began construction of a transmission line linking Georgia and Turkey. Azerbaijan joined the project in September 2010.

Georgia and Azerbaijan currently trade electricity on the 330-kV Gardabani transmission line.

The 500/400/220-kV Akhaltsikhe substation and the 400-kV transmission line between Georgia and Turkey were commissioned in early December 2013.

ANN.Az