In Abkhazia, on the night of December 9-10, the Internet was turned off to combat cryptocurrency mining. The headquarters for ensuring energy security of Abkhazia specifically addressed the providers, explaining the need by a critical lack of electricity.

Acting Prime Minister of Abkhazia Valery Bganba said at a meeting of the headquarters that in the morning the authorities were going to introduce a state of emergency in the country. Due to a lack of electricity, authorities have already been forced to stop the work of schools and kindergartens throughout this partially recognized country.

“Tonight from 00:00 to 07:00 we are turning off the Internet in Abkhazia in order to combat illegal mining and let’s see what effect this will have,” the official said at a headquarters meeting.

The general director of the Chernomorenergo company, Timur Dzhindzholia, said that mining farms in Abkhazia consume about 40–45 MW, which on an annual basis exceeds 350 million kWh or half of the total electricity deficit.

Acting The Prime Minister asked parliament to develop regulations to combat illegal mining, as well as to authorize security forces to take measures to confiscate mining equipment, including by entering private households.

Earlier, Bganba, at a meeting with the participation of representatives of security forces and energy workers, demanded to urgently find a solution that would stop the activities of illegal miners.

In fact, the electricity shortage in Abkhazia was created by a critical decrease in the water level in the Dzhvar reservoir and the resulting decrease in electricity production at the Inguri hydroelectric station, which covered the needs of the western part of the republic and the capital, the city of Sukhum. Until December 10, there was an agreement on the purchase of electricity in Russia, but to extend it, too much money is required,
spoke acting Minister of Energy Jansukh Nanba.