Energy Lawyers in Tbilisi, Georgia

Energy licensing and regulatory classification in Georgia

The regulatory analysis begins with the activity. Electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply and trading raise different licensing, reporting and market participation questions. In natural gas projects, the distinction between transportation, distribution, supply and trade can change the regulatory work substantially. The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, known as GNERC, is central to energy regulation, including licensing and regulated network activities.

We identify the permissions, registrations or notifications that apply to the proposed activity and establish who should hold them. Capacity, technology, the relevant network and the identity of the operator can affect the answer. A project company acquiring a developed asset also needs to know which permissions it can use after closing and which require a separate consent, filing or decision. We connect the energy analysis to the wider licences and permits review.

Land, grid connection and environmental approvals

A solar or wind site can look straightforward until the project needs access for construction, a cable across a neighbouring parcel or a substation outside the original boundary. For a hydropower project, the legal analysis may also involve water use, environmental assessment and the relationship between permits and the proposed design. We review title, leases, easements, access rights and permit sequencing against the project footprint, including infrastructure beyond the main site.

A grid connection offer should identify who delivers each part of the connection, who pays for the works and when capacity becomes available. We examine the milestones, technical annexes, metering arrangements and allocation of delay or curtailment risk. Where the connection depends on reinforcement work outside the developer’s control, the grid and construction timetables need to reflect that dependency before procurement commitments become binding.

Power purchase agreements and route to market

A power purchase agreement converts expected generation into a revenue arrangement that an investor or lender can assess. The contract should explain what power is purchased, how delivery is measured and what happens when the plant is ready but the network or buyer cannot take the output. For merchant or mixed-revenue projects, we review the sale arrangements, market participation, balancing responsibilities and the treatment of changes in market rules.

Price, indexation and currency terms also need to match the project’s financing assumptions. A project earning revenue in Georgian lari and borrowing in another currency may face a mismatch even if its operating performance meets the forecast. Our energy lawyers work with the commercial and technical teams to reflect the agreed allocation of these risks in the contracts.

Acquiring or financing a Georgian energy asset

An acquisition of an operating plant and an acquisition of a development company demand different diligence. An operating asset comes with generation records, grid and offtake arrangements, operating commitments and existing claims. A development acquisition may depend on land rights, project milestones or approvals that have yet to be secured. We review the evidence behind the seller’s development timetable, then document who bears the cost if a key milestone moves or fails.

For funded projects, the energy documents have to work with the security package, assignment rights and lender protections. Our infrastructure and project finance lawyers review these issues alongside completion tests and direct agreements. If the project is being bought or sold, our M&A practice handles the acquisition documents and the path to closing.

Instructing an energy lawyer in Tbilisi

Send a project summary with the location, technology, installed capacity, land status, connection status and intended buyer or market for the output. Include any draft power purchase agreement, connection terms or regulatory correspondence. Lawyers.ge can advise on a single contract or coordinate the Georgian legal work across development, acquisition and financing.