Newsroom

Clean Energy Group responds to ambebi.ge article

On October 7, 2011 the Georgian news portal ambebi.ge published an interview with the Director of the environmental NGO Green Alternative, Manana Kochladze. The article covered ongoing reform of the energy sector of Georgia, construction of large dams and the impact of these.

According to Ms. Kochladze, the construction of 4 hydropower plants on the river Adjaristskali will affect 230 families in the valley, and result in the loss of arable land and income for the owners of this land. “Reduction of the water flow in the river will cause difficulties, and lead to the disruption of the ecological balance in the river” states the Director in the interview.

The Adjaraistsqali Hydro project is in its feasibility phase and the design has not been set yet. Environmetal and Social issues are a key concern when the final design is decided. The Environmental and Social Impact Study undertaken by leading international and Georgian experts are in progress.

According to the Scoping Report published on our website www.adjaristsqali.com, the project does not envision the physical nor economical displacement of anyone. Our preliminary assessment is that the affected land plots have little or no agricultural value. The land owners (approximately 50) who owns the land that will be impacted by the project will receive compensation according to Georgian and World Bank standards.

As for the ecological flow, the expert panel is currently undertaken an assessment and their final recommendation will be based on a needs based approach. The planned design envisages the maintenance of sedimentation flows in the river using flushing gates on the dams.  Flushing gates have been effective in other projects to maintain sediment flows in the river.

The Adjaristsqali project when constructed will create employment opportunities for the people in the local community, contribute to income for the municipalities along the river and improve the energy security of Georgia and reduce global greenhouse emissions.

Optimisation design of Adjaristsqali project received from Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald has submitted their proposed design of the Adjaristsqali project for review by the project sponsors. The proposed design is based on three hydro power stations with a total of 395 MW installed capacity, 1220 GWh and a price tag of 708 m USD.

Clean Energy Group and IFC, a part of the World Bank Group, is currently reviewing the design of the project. The feasibility report will be developed on the basis of the design.  The feasibility report will be submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources by the end of February 2012.

Information session for the Adjaristsqali cascade hydro project

Clean Energy Group through its Georgian subsidiary Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC held an environmental meeting on September 1, 2011 in the office of the Ministry of Economic and Finances of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The goal of the meeting was to introduce and inform environmental NGOs and other stakeholders about the project activities and plans at the early stage of its development.

The meeting was opened by the Deputy Minister of Economic and Finances of Ajara Grigol Tsamalashvili who highlighted the importance of Adjaristsqali Hydro Project for the development of the region. Project Director Bjorn Brandtzaeg presented the development plans for the project and current design plans. Gamma Consulting Ltd part of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment team for the project presented the preliminary assessment of the project and plans for undertaking the ESIA study. Finally Akira Tanabe Principal Environmental Specialist in IFC presented the bank’s involvement in the project and IFCs environmental and social standards that applies to this project.

Representatives of Green Alternative, Greens Movement of Georgia, Batumi State University lecturers, and local NGOs attended the event.

Clean Energy Group has launched public consultation process

Clean Energy Group has launched the public consultation process targeting the Adjaristsqali valley population.  This event is a follow up from the public information meeting with Municipal heads that took place in Khulo on the 14^th of June.

The first meetings will take place on the July 19-20. The goal of the event is to inform the local population about the expected environmental and social impacts of the project. The first draft of the ESIA will be drafted based on the input from the consultation process.

Mott MacDonald Limited and Gamma Consulting Limited have been appointed as consultants by Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC to undertake the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the development of the Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project

On the 19-20th of July, public consultations will be held in Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities; and on July 20 – in Keda and Khelvachauri Municipalities.

Site investigation for the Adjaristsqali project has started

Clean Energy Group through its Georgian subsidiary Adjaristsqali LLC has contracted three companies/consortia for the site investigation(SI) works for the Adjaristsqali project.

The site investigation period will last from July to November.

Mott MacDonald will do the supervision of the SI work.