Turmoil at Abkhazia's Chernomorenergo as acting CEO resigns
Chernomorenergo, a state-owned power company in Abkhazia, is responsible for the distribution of electricity throughout the country.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― The acting CEO of Abkhazia's energy company, Chernomorenergo, Ramin Zingishvili, has resigned from his position. Zingishvili had been leading the company since February of this year.
According to the company, they are waiting for an order to appoint a new leader. However, earlier reports from the Telegram channel RESPUBLICA suggest that Zingishvili's departure may be related to his opposition to the decision to lease the Perepadnaya Hydroelectric Power Plant to a deputy of the self-proclaimed republic's parliament, Rezo Zantaria, who is a former CEO of Chernomorenergo.
Despite these reports, there has been no official confirmation of the reason behind Zingishvili's departure.
The company, which provides electricity to Abkhazia, has a history of leadership changes. RESPUBLICA reports that Tengiz Girdzinba, who previously served as the company's acting CEO, is expected to take over as the new head of Chernomorenergo.
In February of this year, Ramin Zingishvili was named interim Director General of Chernomorenergo, the state power distribution firm, taking on the role after serving as the Deputy General Director for Distribution Networks. However, Zingishvili has now resigned from the position, leaving the company once again without a leader.
This is not the first time that Chernomorenergo has experienced leadership changes. Prior to Zingishvili's appointment, Zurab Bagapsh had been serving as the Acting General Director of the company since October 17, 2022, but he stepped down from the role at his own request.
Abkhazia has been facing an unprecedented energy crisis in recent years. The primary factors contributing to this crisis include high, and often illegal, electricity consumption, the deterioration of energy infrastructure, and a lack of capacity. The Ingur hydroelectric power station, which serves as the sole source of electricity for the entire country, has been operating at a critical water level, leading to significant consequences.