Georgia plans to install electricity meters across Mestia after officials blamed illegal crypto mining for heavy power use, grid pressure and repeated outages.
Summary
- Georgia will install Mestia meters after illegal mining pushed 2025 power use to 133M kWh.
- Officials estimate unlawful electricity use cost Georgia’s energy system 20–25M lari, or $7–9M annually nationwide.
- Residents keep free power within limits, while law enforcement targets large-scale illegal mining operations there.
Vice Prime Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze said illegal crypto mining has become one of the main energy problems in Mestia. He said the activity is putting pressure on the local…
