Abkhazia to temporarily shut down Internet in Abkhazia to counter cryptocurrency mining
SUKHUM. Dec 9 (Interfax) – Abkhazia is planning to disconnect the Internet at night to combat illegal cryptocurrency mining.
The headquarters for ensuring energy security in Abkhazia, which has been set up in the Abkhaz government, urged Internet providers to shut down the Internet from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. on December 10 throughout the country in order to counter the cryptocurrency mining.
A state of emergency in the energy sector is expected to be considered at a meeting in the government on December 10.
General Director of the Chernomorenergo electric power company Timur Jinjolia said at the headquarters meeting that the current mining farms in Abkhazia were consuming 40-45 MW from the common power grid.
“This is the mining that consumes around 350 million kWh per year. To be clear, this is half and even a little more than our shortage, which is currently emerging,” Jinjolia said.
“Even in such a hard situation, illegal mining continues, which further deteriorates the crisis, because of which the entire population of the country is suffering today,” he said.
As reported earlier on Monday, schools and kindergartens in Abkhazia will suspend classes in schools and kindergartens for a week from December 10 due to the energy crisis.
