Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov 19 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/
Fate of Khudoni HPP construction still isn't determined. Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze said currently there is no official decision on the construction of Khudoni HPP.
He noted that the construction of new large HPPs is important for the country, but it should not harm the environment.
Kaladze noted that electricity consumption increased by nine percent this year compared to last year, and the construction of large hydroelectric power becomes more important taking into account the economic development.
However, he noted that this uncertainty does not affect business interests of investors and they won't "run away", as the construction of large HPPs is profitable enough for them.
Recall that Trans Electrica Limited was going to construct 650-megawatt plant on the Inguri. Georgian government signed the agreement with it in 2007. An investor should invest $1 billion in the construction. However, the environmentalists, who believe that the construction of the 200-meter dam and flooding the village Haishi, in particular 528 hectares of land, can dramatically change the climate in this region, are against the construction.
Khudoni HPP construction began in 1986, but due to the lack of environmental safety guarantees it was permanently suspended.