Key facts
- Georgia experienced a nationwide power outage on Wednesday evening, affecting most of the country.
- The blackout coincided with tests at a major hydroelectric plant.
- This is the third nationwide blackout in Georgia in recent weeks.
- Previous outages on July 24-25 are being investigated as potential sabotage.
- Power was gradually restored after the outage, which lasted nearly an hour.
A widespread power cut plunged most of Georgia into darkness on Wednesday evening, with major cities including the capital, Tbilisi, affected. Russian news agencies reported that the outage, which began around 8 p.m. local time, may have been triggered by tests at a major hydroelectric plant.
An official from the commission overseeing the country's power and water utilities, Giorgi Pangani, stated that the incident coincided with tests at the hydroelectric station. These tests were being performed to identify weak points in the country's power grid, following two previous power outages last month. Pangani indicated that the latest power cut was under investigation.