[2] Coal mining, which began in the area in 1935, grew in importance during the Second World War, especially after the Donbas was lost during the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

[2] Tamsaş's tax payments account for 75% of the Tkvarcheli district's budget however, the company was criticized for neglecting environmental requirements.

[4] Georgia regards all this investment as illegal, in clear violation of the 1996 CIS restrictions[5] and has arrested several vessels, loaded with coal from Tkvarcheli, in its territorial waters, a measure that has reportedly brought Tamsaş to the verge of bankruptcy.

While coal mining continues to some extent, the industry is no longer as robust, and the local economy has struggled with high unemployment and limited infrastructure development.

The town's natural beauty and historical significance have attracted some interest from visitors, though political instability in the region remains a challenge for sustained development.