Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has released a statement in connection with the construction of small Hydro Power Plants in the Pankisi Gorge.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Economy addressed the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to ensure the safety of personnel involved in the construction of HPPs.

The ministry spokes about the benefits of the project for the local population.

The statement reads the following:

“The government of Georgia signed a memorandum in 2017 and issued permission for the investor company Ltd. Alazani Energy to construct small hydro power plants ‘Khadori 3’ and ‘Samkhuratskali 2’ only after all state agencies, within their competence, gave positive assessments.

All procedures, set by law, for informing the local population about the projects, were carried out. It is noteworthy that the founder of Alazani Energy – the Georgian company ‘Peri’ successfully operates on the Georgian market and implemented a number of energy projects in various regions of Georgia, including a hydroelectric power station in the Pankisi Gorge.

The company’s management is familiar with the features of the gorge. In addition, the company is one of the largest employers in the gorge. Therefore, the management of Alazani Energy initially set the course for a dialogue with the local population and since 2017 has held many meetings in various formats in order to form a positive attitude towards the project among the population.

The implementation of the project of small hydropower plants will bring the following benefits to the locals of Pankisi Gorge: during the entire construction period, at least 100 local residents will be employed, and after launching the plants 50 permanent jobs will be created. The company will provide retraining for young people, which will enable them to be employed at other hydropower plants. In addition, the company-investor will implement social projects in favor of the residents of the gorge and settlements located near the hydroelectric power station”, – the statement reads.