Georgia Power and Gas Infrastructure Project Quarterly Report FY 2011

The reporting period is for January 1, 2011, through March 31, 2011. The report highlights the project's progress and challenges in implementing the power and gas infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects. The PGIP team has been actively involved in the construction monitoring of the Senaki – Poti – FIZ and the Saguramo – Khashuri pipeline projects. The team has performed studies and reviews of various documents, including implementation documents, procedures, and specifications. They have also conducted site visits to construction sites, warehouses, and construction equipment storage areas. The team has identified several challenges, including the need for acceleration of the construction progress to meet the project's time schedule requirements. They have proposed amendments to the construction processes, including health and safety rules, environmental issues, and quality control mechanisms. The PGIP team has held numerous meetings with stakeholders, including USAID and the Georgian government, to discuss project implementation, design changes, and financial support. The team has also provided recommendations on project implementation, including the possibility of participating in the Senaki – Vani gas pipeline project instead of the Saguramo – Khashuri construction and rehabilitation project. The report highlights the importance of addressing the financial difficulties faced by the contractor, Sakhydro, which had abandoned the project. The team has proposed amendments to the project implementation schedule and has provided recommendations on how to accelerate the construction progress. The report also discusses the local national staffing challenges, including the need for a permanent replacement for the PGIP Senior Engineer position. The team has proposed relevant support for the PGIP team until a new candidate is identified. The report concludes by highlighting the progress made by the PGIP team in implementing the power and gas infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects. The team has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the project's success and has provided recommendations on how to address the challenges faced by the project.