Russia approached Azerbaijan and Georgia with a formal request to study the feasibility of importing electricity in case of an emergency. The inquiry was framed as a preparation for regional resilience, aiming to understand whether the two neighboring national grids could be mobilized to deliver power to the Russian Federation if a domestic disruption occurred. The assessment would cover technical compatibility, existing transmission capacity, and the practical steps required to activate cross border electricity transfers on short notice. It would evaluate interconnection readiness, voltage and frequency alignment, and the potential need for ramping up generation on either side to meet demand peaks. In addition, planners would map regulatory clearances, fuel availability, and the incremental cost of such transfers, ensuring that any contingency plan could be executed without compromising the stability of the connected networks. The overall objective was to sketch a credible, rapid response option that would reassure utilities and regulators about regional cooperation in times of stress, while outlining governance responsibilities and risk controls for all parties involved.
Azerbaijan and Georgia were identified as the two neighboring partners, and the inquiry focused on the practical possibility of delivering energy. The conversations centered on confirming the readiness of grid operators, the availability of transmission corridors, and the regulatory approvals necessary for emergency arrangements. The discussions also addressed the technical and commercial terms that would govern such deliveries, including the balance of supply obligations, pricing mechanisms, and safeguards to prevent unintended cross-border flows during normal operations. By examining these aspects, the parties sought to build a scenario where power could be steered across borders quickly if domestic resources were insufficient, with careful attention given to the impact on wholesale markets, consumer tariffs, and grid reliability in both countries. The tone of the exchanges suggested a pragmatic approach, focusing on verifiable capabilities and clear implementation steps.
Beyond the general feasibility, the request encompassed a formal assessment of the transmission corridors and the technical capabilities of the two adjacent power systems to support Russia during an emergency. This included examining interconnections, equipment interoperability, and grid stability considerations when power flows through multiple boundaries. Analysts would explore whether current protection schemes, relay settings, and harmonized operating procedures could sustain safe operation under altered power dynamics and contingency conditions. The plan would also consider coordinating reserve energy, possibly reconfiguring tie-lines, and creating priority pathways that would minimize the risk of unintended instability. The goal was to produce a credible blueprint for a rapid joint response that respects the integrity of each system while enabling a dependable supply channel should unforeseen disruptions occur at home.
In September, it was noted that Russia’s electricity exports had declined by about 35 percent since the start of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023. The main reason cited was a lower export volume to the Chinese market, where deliveries had fallen by roughly 80 percent since the year’s beginning. The downturn was linked to a cross-border line linking the Amurskaya region with a city in northern China, which was closed in November of the preceding year. Since that outage, officials indicated that the line had not been brought back into service, resulting in constrained supply along that corridor. Market participants emphasized that the broader trend reflected shifts in demand, geopolitical dynamics, and infrastructure limitations that influence cross-border energy trade and domestic generation strategies.
Earlier data from customs authorities indicated a steep year-on-year drop in electricity deliveries to China during the January-June period, with losses estimated at around 76 percent. The sharp decline highlighted how changes in cross-border energy flows can reshape regional power balance and prompt neighboring countries to adjust planning and maintenance schedules accordingly. Analysts noted that the picture is driven by a mix of demand fluctuations, regulatory changes, and the ongoing effects of the transit line outage, which continue to reverberate through wholesale markets, project economics, and long-term energy diplomacy in the region.