“Opposing projects of the Namakhvani HPP variety amounts to acting against the interests of the country,” declared Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

The Mayor commented on the reports that the Paris Court of Appeal had suspended enforcement of a $400 million award in the Namakhvani HPP case.

Kaladze contended that projects of this nature are vital for Georgia to attain energy independence and to develop the capacity to export electricity.

“Our country is rich in natural resources. We must act rationally and harness those resources for the good of the nation. It is plainly in Georgia’s interest to be an energy-independent country, and more than that, to be able to export the electricity we generate here, to Türkiye and onwards to European markets. Where does the bulk of our electricity currently come from? Some we generate ourselves, but a significant portion, particularly in winter, we import from Russia and Azerbaijan. Projects such as Namakhvani HPP are enormously conducive to reducing our dependence on neighbouring countries, securing our own energy supply, and building an export capability,” Kaladze stated.

The Mayor went on to say that the construction of hydroelectric power stations had frequently been opposed by specific groups, including elements of the NGO sector, who were funded from abroad for precisely this purpose.

“Opposing projects like Namakhvani HPP is nothing short of acting against this country. We know perfectly well whose interests are served by keeping Georgia energy-dependent on its neighbours. When I was Energy Minister, NGOs regularly protested against the construction of hydroelectric power stations, and they were receiving foreign funding to do so,” Kaladze noted.