An estimated $10 million project of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was launched today to rebuild destroyed power lines and related infrastructure in the nation of Georgia. The agency will help the state utility Georgian State Electrosystem, Ltd. (GSE) to "reestablish" a 37-mile transmission system linking the Menji and Tskaltubo substations. The endeavor also will rebuild utility support structures ("Of a total of 212 original structures only 3 are still in place.") and bus terminals, according to the solicitation (#SOL-114-11-000010). Although the document did not specify the source of the power system's destruction, it should be noted that the country sustained significant damage during a 2008 conflict with Russia, a situation that remains precarious, according to a recent AP report via the Washington Post.
Other Monitor articles on Georgia: See "In Other USAID Business" segment of 4/27/2011 news briefs regarding a $22 million contract that USAID awarded to Chemonics International.
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