Project Investment Checklist for the USAID Securing Georgia's Energy Future Program

The program is carried out under contract 7200AA19D00025 / 72011421F00002 between Deloitte Consulting LLP and USAID. The program objective is to improve Georgia's energy security through sound long-term policymaking and governance, increased private-sector investment in indigenous renewable energy production, building the capacity of Georgian institutions to effectively and sustainably manage domestic energy markets, and improved energy sector resilience to cyber threats. The program will support the further development of Georgia's energy sector into an open, regionally-integrated, market-driven system, capable of independently planning, financing, and implementing solutions to Georgia's energy security challenges. The specific program objectives are: improved energy system planning, increased investment to promote energy sector resilience, improved governance and operations of a well-functioning Georgian energy market, and reduced cybersecurity vulnerabilities. To achieve these objectives, the program will provide financial project structuring support, including a preliminary deal review, strategic advisory support to promote project bankability, and a project investment checklist to guide project compliance with investor/lender requirements and streamline access to GoG incentives. The project investment checklist is a tool designed to ease access to finance and GoG incentives for project developers/sponsors and help them meet the requirements of investors/lenders. The project investment checklist is divided into several sections, including developer/sponsor/promoter profile, project status, and schedule to complete development. The developer/sponsor/promoter profile section assesses the management team's experience in areas such as private non-utility power plant development, project finance, lending, equity investment, and operation and maintenance of power plants. The project status section evaluates the status of key agreements, including permits, concession agreements, project awards, and licenses from the government. The schedule to complete development section outlines the detailed schedule for project development, including tasks, timing, and cost, as well as responsible parties and milestones. The program also assesses political support/opposition for the project, including local, regional, and national support. The checklist is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the project's readiness for investment and to guide project developers/sponsors in meeting the requirements of investors/lenders. The program's geographic focus is on Georgia, with a specific emphasis on improving the country's energy security and reducing its susceptibility to malign influence. The program's timeframes are not explicitly stated, but the project investment checklist is a tool designed to support the program's objectives and to guide project developers/sponsors in meeting the requirements of investors/lenders. Overall, the USAID Securing Georgia's Energy Future Program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving Georgia's energy security and reducing its susceptibility to malign influence. The program's objectives, methodology, and tools, including the project investment checklist, are designed to support the further development of Georgia's energy sector into an open, regionally-integrated, market-driven system.