Energy Ministry of Georgia to Publicize the Study Proposed Khudoni Hydropower Project
July 15, 2008
The Energy Ministry of Georgia will publicize the study proposed Khudoni Hydropower Project (HPP). They will meet with residents of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and discuss with them the possible environmental and social impact of Khudoni HPP. As Black Sea Press was told at the Energy Ministry, the Ministry received the strategic environmental impact assessment of Khudoni HPP from Serbian company SEEC, a report that placed Khudoni in the context of other power supply alternatives.
Furthermore, The Ministry of Energy of Georgia has received the Phase I screening report on environmental and social impact assessment of the Khudoni HPP from French-Italian Consortium BRL Ingenierie/ARS Progetti, which is the report prior to developing the full environmental impact assessment and the resettlement action plan that would be needed should a decision be made to build the hydropower plant. The Ministry of Energy of Georgia will hold public consultations on the studies for the proposed Khudoni HPP project on July 28-31, 2008, with the population of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti region and other interested parties, according to the following schedule: Jvari - July 28, Mestia - July 29, Khaishi - July 30, Zugdidi - July 30, Tbilisi - July 31. They said at the Ministry that the studies for the proposed project included: a technical and economic feasibility study of the Khudoni HPP being carried out by a Swiss company Colenco Power Engineering/Stucky.
Source: Black Sea Press, July 2008
* Let us remind that the World Bank has allotted $6 million for funding of pre-design works under construction of KhudoniHPP. The funds are intended for study of the situation at the construction grounds, preparation of the project and ecological expert examination. Total construction cost of KhudoniHPP makes USD 500 million. International consortium will probably be established for the purpose of the project implementation. It will consist of the donor organizations and private investors. Furthermore, the consortium will be responsible for attraction of the investments and implementation of the KhudoniHPP construction project. Construction of KhudoniHPP was launched in early 1980s, however was soon closed down under pressure of the Georgian Greens Party. KhudoniHPP is situated on the Inguri River, 30 km up-stream from InguriHEPS. Around USD 150 million was spent on the construction project at that time. The designed capacity of the plant is 600-700 MW
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