On March 27, 2023, a public hearing for the 110 kV overhead transmission line project "Bakhvi 1-2" associated with the Bakhvi 1 and 2 hydropower plants was held at the administrative office of the Mtsipiri administrative unit in Ozurgeti Municipality.
The public hearing was organized by the National Environmental Agency of Georgia. The scoping report was presented by an agency representative, followed by a detailed presentation by the project’s director, Giorgi Abramishvili, and the company’s technical team member, Engineer Valeri Khachidze.
The event was attended by Vladimir Chavleshvili, the mayor’s representative for Mtsipiri, as well as representatives from NGOs, media, and businesses, and residents from the villages of Mtsipiri, Okroskedi, Vaniskedi, and Ukana. Educational sector representatives also attended the hearing.
“Our goal is to transmit the electricity generated by our hydropower plants to the central transmission line of the national grid via the transmission line. This was clearly explained to the public during the hearing. Our standards remain unchanged, and the construction of this transmission line will adhere to the same standards as our hydroplants. The residents of Mtsipiri are well-acquainted with us and our projects, and they are aware of the measures we have implemented to reach this point. Environmental protection is a crucial aspect for both the community and us,” said David Koberidze, the Environmental, Social, and Governance Manager for the project.
The discussion proceeded in a Q&A format, and the audience noted that the company had made significant efforts in working with local residents and providing information.
According to the Environmental Assessment Code, after a successful scoping phase, the project proceeds to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) phase. The scoping report for the 110 kV transmission line construction and operation was submitted to the National Environmental Agency on March 1, 2023. For more details, please refer to the agency’s announcement here.
Bakhvi HPP is responsible for the Bakhvi 1 and Bakhvi 2 hydropower plant projects, with investments from the US fund Caucasus Clean Energy Holding and the Austrian company Ilag. Bakhvi HPP operates in compliance with Georgian legislation and regulations, as well as the environmental and social management standards of IFC and EIB. The company has established an independent environmental and social management system, ensuring strict adherence to these rules and regulations.
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