BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 12
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has proposed to create a state commission to discuss the prospects for the development of the energy sector and individual projects in this area, Trend reports via Georgian media.
“It is desirable to create a state commission where economists, energy experts, environmentalists, local residents and foreign experts will jointly discuss not only the fate of one particular hydroelectric power plant, but also plans for the future, as well as prospects,” Zourabichvili said, presenting in parliament its annual report.
The president explained the need to create a commission by the disagreements that arose in society over the Namakhvani HPP project in western Georgia. Opponents of the hydroelectric power station are constantly holding protests demanding to stop construction. The government says that the hydroelectric power station is completely safe. The authorities also emphasize that the project will help improve the country's energy security and create more than 1,500 new jobs.
The president added that solidarity is especially important in the process of overcoming the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2019, the Georgian government granted the right to develop, build, own and operate the Namakhvani HPP cascade (Imereti region) to the Turkish ENKA company and Norwegian Clean Energy Group.
The cascade connects two hydroelectric power plants on the Rioni River: Kvemo Namakhvani with a capacity of 333 MW and Zemo Namakhvani with a capacity of 100 MW. After the completion of the project, electricity production in Georgia will increase by 15 percent. Up to $800 million will be invested in the construction of the cascade.
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