Azerbaijan's SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan) plans to further enhance gasification in Georgia by the end of the current year.

As a result of collaborative efforts between "SOCAR Georgia Gas" and the Georgian government, the level of gasification in Georgia is projected to reach 88 percent by the end of 2024, according to SOCAR's Sustainable Development report, Azernews reports.

This figure marks a significant increase from 46 percent in 2008, attributed to extensive developments in the sector. The number of subscribers has surged from 71,000 in 2009 to 870,000 as of December 31, 2023. Furthermore, over 11,200 kilometers of new gas pipelines have been laid from 2007 to 2023.

Established in 2006, "SOCAR Energy Georgia" LLC was the first venture of SOCAR in a foreign country, focusing on the import, wholesale, and retail distribution of oil and gas products in the Georgian market. The company has emerged as one of the largest investors and taxpayers in Georgia.

Beyond wholesale and retail operations, "SOCAR Energy Georgia" also manages the construction and operation of gas stations, supply oil product terminals and vehicles, and handle import operations. To support these activities, subsidiary companies, including "SOCAR Georgia Gas," "SOCAR Georgia Petroleum," and "SOCAR Georgia Security," have been fully established under "SOCAR Energy Georgia."

"SOCAR Georgia Petroleum" operates 13 service centers and four oil product terminals, offering liquefied natural gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), diesel fuel, and high-quality gasoline that meets "Euro-5" standards, with products imported from European countries.

In an innovative move, SOCAR has introduced electric vehicle charging stations at 19 locations across 15 of its service stations on major roads and in Tbilisi. Additionally, a solar panel station with a maximum annual capacity of 39.6 kilowatts was installed in 2023, generating 74,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity for internal use. Current design projects include plans for constructing solar stations with an annual capacity of 1.7 megawatts at four facilities.