Tkibuli

{{Short description|City in Imereti, Georgia}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Tkibuli

| native_name = ტყიბული

| native_name_lang = ka

| image_skyline = ტყიბული.jpg

| image_caption = Tkibuli city centre

| imagesize = 300

| image_flag = Flag of Tkibuli Municipality.svg

| flag_size =

| image_seal = COA of Tkibuli.svg

| flag_link =

| seal_link =

| pushpin_map = Georgia#Georgia Imereti

| pushpin_mapsize = 270px

| map_caption = Location of Tkibuli in Georgia

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Georgia

| subdivision_type1 = Region (Mkhare)

| subdivision_name1 = Imereti

| subdivision_type2 = Municipality

| subdivision_name2 = Tkibuli Municipality

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name =

| established_title = Established

| established_date =

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 =

| area_land_km2 =

| area_water_km2 =

| population_as_of = January 1, 2024

| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://geostat.ge/media/61960/1-3-population-by-cities-and-boroughs.xlsx |title=Population by regions |publisher=National Statistics Office of Georgia |access-date=28 April 2024 }}

| population_total = 8130

| population_density_km2 = auto

| blank1_name = Climate

| blank1_info = Cfa

| timezone = Georgian Time

| utc_offset = +4

| timezone_DST =

| utc_offset_DST =

| coordinates = {{coord|42|21|01|N|42|59|54|E|region:GE|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_m =

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code =

| area_code = (+995)

| website = {{URL|http://tkibuli.gov.ge/}}

| footnotes =

}}

Tkibuli or Tqibuli ({{lang-ka|ტყიბული}} {{IPA|ka|ˈt'χ'ibuli|}}) 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,{{Cite encyclopedia | url=http://bse.sci-lib.com/article110918.html | title=Definition of "Tkibuli" |encyclopedia=Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd edition 1969–1978 | accessdate=2022-08-26 | language=ru}} 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 {{convert|600|m|ft}}.

At the height of mining in the Soviet-era Tkibuli had more than 20,000 residents,{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-cities.htm | title=Population cities & towns of Georgia | accessdate=2022-08-26 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/georgian-coal-town-longs-for-chinese-rescue|title=Georgian coal town longs for Chinese rescue | Eurasianet}} After a series of fatal accidents, claiming 16 lives in total in 2018,{{cite news |title=Georgia 2018: Top 10 events of the year |url=https://jam-news.net/georgia-2018-top-10-events-of-the-year/ |accessdate=2019-01-06 |work=JamNews |date=2018-12-28}} mining was put on hold in late 2018 but resumed again in 2019.{{Cite web | url=https://civil.ge/archives/322060 | title=Coal Mining to Resume in Tkibuli | work=Civil Georgia |date=2019-07-27 | accessdate=2022-08-26}}