MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natia Turnava examined the preparatory works for the construction of the Namakhvani HPP in the Tskaltubo Municipality. The project was launched in May this year and is currently being implemented simultaneously at four locations. Zviad Shalamberidze, State Representative in Imereti and Baran Ozgen, the representative of the project investor company and the head of the Namakhvani project were present at the facility together with the Minister.

The project manager informed the Minister and the Governor about the social projects that the investor company Enka is implementing or planning in the settlements of the construction zone. The projects are mainly focused on the development of small business and the promotion of the education. Within the target projects, computers were handed over to three schools in in the Tskaltubo Municipality, the needs of the schools were assessed and repair and rehabilitation works have already started on the territory of two schools. In addition, with the help of the social team of the project company, about 50 small entrepreneurs submitted grant applications for such programs as UN FAO, GRETA and Enterprise Georgia. The company ENKA will provide micro-grants to the grantee entrepreneurs. Activities for women empowerment are also planned including the support for women entrepreneurs.

“Namakhvani HPP project is one of the best examples when such a large construction project can be implemented with the involvement of the Government in a way that does less damage to nature and the local population is as much satisfied as possible. This is a very important large hydropower plant with an installed capacity of 430 MW with massive foreign direct investment amounting to 800 million USD, carried out by the Turkish company ENKA. But the most important thing is that this is a very big contribution to Georgia’s energy security, because after the completion of the construction, almost 12 percent of our consumption will be generated locally. It is even more important that the project brings great employment and prosperity to the local population,” – the Minister noted.

About 370 people are involved in the project now. In total, about 1600 Georgian citizens will be employed in the Namakhvani HPP cascade construction project.