Trip Report: Hydropower Investment Promotion Project (HIPP)

The project has identified a cluster of project sites along the Tsablari River and Machakhela River, with pre-feasibility studies currently underway for these two projects. The HIPP team is preparing basic technical studies to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the projects. Public awareness workshops (PAWs) are planned to be held for the Bagdati and Khelvachauri communities to ensure their involvement at the early stage of planning. The HIPP team met with local government representatives and community leaders to gather information and prepare the PAWs. The meetings were attended by the Heads of Local Municipality, Heads of Sakrebulo, and other officials. The HIPP representatives explained the scope of activity of the Hydropower Investment Project and presented general technical data of the HPPs. The local government representatives expressed their full support to the Project and readiness for active involvement at the early planning stage. They provided recommendations for organizing the PAWs, including the need to hold separate workshops for different communities and to involve local government and community representatives in the planning process. The HIPP team also collected water samples from the Machakhela and Adjaristskhali rivers, as well as from the Ckhenistskhali and Kvirila rivers. The HIPP team attended two important events in the hydropower sector during their visit. The first event was a public hearing of the Namakhvani River Hydropower Project in Kutaisi, which was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia, Marika Valishvili, and representatives of local municipalities and communities. The project implementation was supported, and technical and environmental issues were discussed. The second event was the signing of the Implementation Agreement for the Adjaristskali River Hydropower Project between the Georgian Government and Clean Energy Invest AS. The signing ceremony was held in Batumi Sheraton Hotel on June 10, 2011, and was attended by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia, A. Khetaguri, and Ragnar Segaard, CEO of Clean Energy Invest. The Head of Adjara Government, Levan Varshalomidze, expressed his full support to the project, noting its high contribution to increasing export income of Georgia and providing employment opportunities for local people. The project will be implemented in close cooperation with local municipalities, and the signing ceremony was attended by representatives of local and national press. The event was broadly highlighted by media, with signing ceremony and interviews with L. Varshalomidze, A. Khetaguri, and R. Segaard broadcasted on Adjara and all other Georgian TV Channels.