Russia could use economic leverage against Georgia

The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia) August 13, 2008 Wednesday RUSSIA COULD USE ECONOMIC LEVERAGE AGAINST GEORGIA There are four major pipeline systems in Georgia: the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the North-South gas pipeline. Russia controls only one of the four: the North-South pipeline, used to transport Russian gas to Armenia. As of this year, Georgia has minimized its consumption of Russian gas in favor of cheaper fuel from Azerbaijan. The other three pipelines transport fuel from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. And it would be somewhat inaccurate to talk of Russia using energy as a weapon in this situation - but neither can we say for certain, at this stage, that Russia will not cut off supplies. Gazprom has not made any statements... [read full story]