Public Awareness Workshop Report: Hydropower Investment Promotion Project (HIPP) in Tsageri Community

The project aims to develop a minimum 400 MW in new, run-of-the-river hydropower stations in Georgia. HIPP has identified a cluster of project sites along the Tskhenistskali River, with two pre-feasibility studies currently underway for projects with a total capacity of 230 MW. The project sites are located in the Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti Region, near Lentekhi and Tsageri. The HIPP team is preparing basic technical studies to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the projects. As part of this process, a public awareness workshop was held in Tsageri community to ensure community involvement at the early planning stage, identify areas of community concern, and gather feedback from local residents. The workshop was attended by 45 community members, including landowners, vendors, hawkers, and local authorities. The HIPP team provided information about the project in general, discussed technical characteristics of the proposed HPP project, and addressed possible environmental and social impacts. The team stressed the importance of public participation in the early project design phase and asked participants to express their opinions and attitudes towards the project. Community members raised several key issues and concerns, including landslide risks, local benefits of the project, and employment opportunities for local residents. They also expressed concerns about the cumulative impact on the Tskhenistskali watershed from operating three hydro power plants. The community's attitude towards the project development is generally positive, with members willing to cooperate with HPP project developers. The workshop outcome indicates that community members expect to receive new job opportunities from the operation of the HPP. It was agreed that further development of the project would be further discussed with the community members. The HIPP team suggested developing an informative leaflet covering issues associated with the project development, including environmental implications, to distribute to the communities during organizing the meetings. The public awareness workshop was an essential step in ensuring community involvement and gathering feedback from local residents. The HIPP team's efforts to engage with the community and address their concerns will be crucial in the successful implementation of the project. The project's success will depend on the ability to balance the needs of the community with the technical and economic feasibility of the project. The HIPP project has the potential to provide significant benefits to the local community, including new job opportunities and access to low-cost electricity. However, it is essential to address the concerns raised by the community and ensure that the project is developed in a way that minimizes its environmental and social impacts. The HIPP team's commitment to community engagement and participation will be critical in achieving the project's goals and ensuring its long-term sustainability.