The state budget allocated 1.9 billion Georgian GEL for the purpose of financing capital projects in 2018. Out of 64 capital projects, 22 of the projects ended up using less than 80% of the money allocated to them and 12 of the projects’ funds were not spent at all.
These projects are mentioned in budget monitoring performed by the Audit Service:
Construction of a highway and a railway connected to the port of Anaklia
Annual plan: 11 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of a transportation system connected to the Kutaisi International Airport (Kopitnari)
Annual plan: 10 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of a bridge on the Debeda river
Annual plan: 5 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Building/Modernization of the Algeti-Sadakhlo highway
Annual plan: 12 million GEL
The actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of highway and tunnel connecting Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi highway to the Kvesheti-Kobi section
Annual plan: 53 million GEL
The actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of Poti bridge on the Rioni river
Annual plan: 10 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of a Lochini-Sagarejo 20-50km section on the Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi highway
Annual plan: 25 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Project for the renovation of the municipal infrastructure of Georgia
Annual plan: 1 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Project for Kobuleti waste water
Annual plan: 3 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
The rehabilitation of Tbilisi public schools and the project for an increase in energy effectiveness
Annual plan: 10.2 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Project for solid waste in Adjara
Annual plan: 4 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Construction of a Rustavi-Red Bridge section on the Tbilisi-Red Bridge highway
Annual plan: 25 million GEL
Actual execution within 12 months: 0%
Only 1% out of the 12-month plan was spent on the Kutaisi wastewater project; the funding plan of the project is 3 million GEL, but the execution only requires 41,390 GEL.
As stated in the Audit Service, in Georgia there are both informal and non-standardized processes for the initial selection of projects. In particular, there is no strategy for the development of capital projects, not on the national level or in different sectors. In addition, those executing the projects do not have the selection methodology that determines the selection criteria and the apparent designation of this process.
Also, there is no initial estimation for capital projects financed by the budget resources, the purpose of which would be to choose the best way out of several alternatives in the development of the projects.