The Georgian government and the energy distribution company Energo-pro Georgia are addressing the problem of illegal mining of cryptocurrencies in Svaneti. This was stated by the Minister of Economy of Georgia Natia Turnava, writes Echo of the Caucasus.
Over the year in the village of Mestia, electricity consumption has sharply increased due to mining farms. The widespread adoption of cryptocurrency mining in this region is associated with low tariffs for businesses and free electricity for the local population.
Due to the congestion of the networks, the authorities introduced a schedule for the supply of electricity.
Turnava called illegal electricity consumption, especially in the case of so-called household mining, unacceptable.
According to her, the authorities are working with the local self-government, as well as with Energo-pro Georgia, which supplies electricity to Svaneti, to gradually resolve the issue.
At the same time, Turnava does not consider it necessary to involve the police to identify mining farms.
At the end of December, residents of Mestia held protests demanding the closure of cryptocurrency mining farms and accused the authorities of patronizing miners.
As a reminder, at the beginning of 2020 Energo-Pro Georgia stopped the supply of electricity to a mining farm located in Mestia.
