“After the successful rehabilitation of the Abastumani observatory building, we are starting the process of making the observatory’s main dome and main telescope. The procedures have already been completed, and the best European company has been selected, which will manufacture a new, modern telescope for the Abastumani observatory and also take care of the production of a new dome, under the conditions of which the Abastumani observatory will become an internationally attractive and recognized center of astronomical sciences. Abastumani Observatory is of great importance from a scientific and educational point of view. The Ministry has also started the process of selecting the appropriate company to organize the digital museum. Also, the development of the complete rehabilitation project of the administrative part of the observatory is being completed, and the construction of the water supply system for the 24-hour water supply of the observatory is being started,” the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Irakli Karseladze, said about this after visiting the Abastumani Observatory.
The Municipal Development Fund of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure selected the Austrian company “ASA Astrosysteme GmbH” to manufacture the 1.5-meter telescope, its corresponding equipment, and the 12-meter radius dome of the Abastumani Observatory.
The Austrian company has many years of experience in the manufacture of high-quality telescopes and scientific equipment, the company’s highly professional team, prepares astronomical research and observation equipment for both commercial organizations and leading scientific and research institutions.
The company should complete the manufacturing and installation of the new telescope and dome by 2024; the project is being implemented with the financial support of 8.6 million GEL from the World Bank.
The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, within the framework of the Abastumani development plan, in 2019-2020, completed the complete rehabilitation of about 20 historic houses of the 19th-20th century, the National Astrophysical Observatory built in 1932, and the cableway built in 1982 on the central street of the Abastumani resort.
In 2019, the general plan for the development of the Abastumani resort was developed, and for the continuous, standard water supply and proper drainage of Abastumani, in 2020-2022, the construction-rehabilitation of the resort’s water supply and sewage systems and sewage treatment plant was completed.
For the development of a unique air and landscape resort, the complete rehabilitation of the Baghdati-Abastumani road, the construction of the Abastumani bypass road, the bus station and the open parking lot are also ongoing with state funding.
