Page 53 - GEORptDec20

9.1.11 ​Renewable energy sector news
Georgia’s major hydropower project Namakhvani faces protests
Georgian state energy company to build third Gardabani thermal power station
Local inhabitants in Georgia are continuing with weeks-long protests against the 430 MW Namakhvani hydropower project in the western part of the country.
The plan is for the plant to generate 1,500 GWh per year, equivalent to 11.7% of Georgia's total power consumption in 2019.
The protesters, citing what they say are devastating environmental and social impacts of the project, erected tents more than three weeks ago near the project site to prevent the hydropower plant (HPP) construction.
Georgia is striving to boost its power generation capacity, which lags behind rising consumption, by building several HPPs. While many of the HPP projects are facing environmental and cultural heritage problems, the power shortage is widening, something which could eventually force the development of alternative solutions.
Russian-backed Abkhaz authorities, meanwhile, on November 17 introduced restrictions on power supply in the occupied region due to a hike in power consumption caused by “massive illegal connections to power grids”. Even if connected legally as consumers, the new consumption would still push up demand that is logically rising.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) and Green Alternative are among groups claiming that the company in charge of construction works at the Namakhvani HPP project have not presented substantial documentation and research for the intended construction impact assessment despite launching the “so-called preparatory works” that they say significantly interfering with local natural and social habitat.
Enka Renewables, the company implementing the project, issued a statement claiming that all the works are being carried in line with the obtained permit. "We would like to respond to the information voiced by some media outlets regarding the permit for the Namakhvani HPP cascade project and declare with full responsibility that the ongoing preparatory work on the Namakhvani HPP is carried out within the framework of the current legislation, based on the existing permit,” the company said in a statement.
The government of Georgia awarded Turkish engineering company ENKA and Norway’s Clean Energy Group the right to develop, construct, own and operate the Namakhvani HPP Cascade in the Imereti and Lechkhumi provinces in 2019.
The project encompasses two separate HPPs on the Rioni River, the longest river that flows solely within Georgia: the Lower Namakhvani HPP (333 MW) and the Upper Namakhvani HPP (100 MW). The construction was scheduled to take place between March 1 this year and July 31, 2024.
State-owned Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC) is to build a 272MW thermal power plant at an estimated cost of $174.8mn ($144.8mn), not including taxes.
GOGC will sign a contract with Turkish company Chalik Energy for the construction of the station, Business Media announced, quoting data from the state procurement agency.
According to the data available, the contract was awarded after a competitive procedure. From the minutes of the meeting of the tender commission of the corporation, it is seen that there were 18 international bidders, including Mistubishi, Tata Power Enka and Chalik Energy.
The new thermal power plant will be built on land owned by the company, near
53​ GEORGIA Country Report ​December 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com