Tkibuli Explained

Tkibuli
Native Name:ტყიბული
Native Name Lang:ka
Pushpin Map:Georgia#Georgia Imereti
Pushpin Mapsize:270px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Georgia
Subdivision Type1:Region (Mkhare)
Subdivision Name1:Imereti
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Tkibuli Municipality
Leader Title:Mayor
Established Title:Established
Population As Of:January 1, 2024
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:8130
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank1 Name:Climate
Blank1 Info:Cfa
Timezone:Georgian Time
Utc Offset:+4
Coordinates:42.3503°N 42.9983°W
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Area Code:(+995)

Tkibuli or Tqibuli (Georgian: ტყიბული) is a town in west-central Georgia of 8,130 residents (January 2024). located in the Imereti region at the foot of the Racha Range and the Nakerala limestone cliff, which marks the boundary of the historic region Racha. Tkibuli gained city status in 1939,[2] and has been a coal mining center since mining started in 1846. The city is also known for the tea that is grown in the region and sold throughout the country. It is located between two man-made reservoirs used for hydropower generation with an elevation difference of more than 600m (2,000feet).

At the height of mining in the Soviet-era Tkibuli had more than 20,000 residents,[3] but the economic disarray of the 1990s caused an exodus from the city and the mines practically halted production. Since production has resumed in 2008 by a Georgian company, the mines are a mainstay of local economy providing 2,000 people and their families the only source of income. However, the mines have become notorious for fatal accidents due to outdated equipment and inappropriate safety standards.[4] After a series of fatal accidents, claiming 16 lives in total in 2018,[5] mining was put on hold in late 2018 but resumed again in 2019.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population by regions . National Statistics Office of Georgia . 28 April 2024 .
  2. Web site: Definition of "Tkibuli" . Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd edition 1969–1978 . 2022-08-26 . ru.
  3. Web site: Population cities & towns of Georgia . 2022-08-26 . Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR.
  4. Web site: Georgian coal town longs for Chinese rescue | Eurasianet.
  5. News: Georgia 2018: Top 10 events of the year . 2019-01-06 . JamNews . 2018-12-28.
  6. Web site: Coal Mining to Resume in Tkibuli . Civil Georgia . 2019-07-27 . 2022-08-26.