FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Melissa Brown, mbrown@usea.org

Washington, D.C.—USEA President & CEO Mark Menezes today issued the following statement marking the 34th anniversary of U.S.-Georgia relations, noting that April commemorates the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi and the beginning of a decades-long technical partnership within the energy sector.

“On behalf of the United States Energy Association, I recognize this milestone in our bilateral relationship,” said Menezes. “For over 30 years, USEA has collaborated with Georgia’s energy institutions to modernize infrastructure and strengthen the regional energy landscape.”

A cornerstone of this partnership is the recent development of a unified natural gas demand forecast through 2050, which analyzed 15 growth scenarios across the industrial, transport, and power sectors. By integrating diverse variables, including decarbonization measures and fluctuating renewable generation, the forecast provides a strategic foundation for future supply contracts and infrastructure investment.

USEA’s technical leadership has also facilitated critical cross-border interconnections that integrate Georgia into the broader European market. This includes the initial 2006 analysis for the $300 million HVDC Back-to-Back converter station, which enabled the first high-voltage link for clean hydroelectric exports to Türkiye, and a pre-feasibility study for the Black Sea Submarine Cable that has since leveraged World Bank funding and EU grant support.

“Energy security is the bedrock of economic stability,” said Will Polen, Senior Director at USEA. “From establishing high-voltage links to the complex modeling of 2050 gas needs, USEA remains a steadfast partner in securing Georgia’s resilient and integrated energy future.”