On September 25, 2023, the fourth meeting of the year the Advisory Board on Environmental and Social Issues founded by the Bakhvi HPP took place. David Koberidze, the Environmental, Social and Governance Manager of Bakhvi HPP, provided the advisory board members with updates on the development of the social program. Specifically, the board members were informed about the progress in preparing the forest reforestation plan, statistics on local hires for pre-construction work on the Bakhvi 2 HPP, progress on the water system construction in Vaniskedi, which will supply water to 47 households, and updates to the educational program in Mtsipiri and Chkhakaura schools following a new curriculum aimed at raising awareness on environmental and renewable energy issues.
Pierre Biderman, an international expert on environmental and social projects, has been in Guria for two days. He presented the results of the monitoring of pre-construction works conducted by Bakhvi HPP to the advisory board members. The meeting with Pierre Biderman was conducted in a Q&A format, where board members received comprehensive answers to all their queries, primarily concerning environmental topics. These included issues such as fishpasses and their effective management, as well as the establishment of quarries during construction. In turn, Pierre Biderman had questions for the advisory board members, showing interest in their opinions on the board's effectiveness and the current communication format between the company, board members, and stakeholders. The advisory board members discussed their roles and the increased responsibilities they bear towards the community. They emphasized that they consistently raise and discuss critical issues with company representatives.
The Environmental and Social Advisory Board of Bakhvi HPP is a consultative body established by the company with the aim of increasing stakeholder engagement and ensuring transparency in the hydropower projects. The board consists of 12 independent members nominated from the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti. It includes representatives from various sectors, such as local government bodies, non-governmental organizations, media, and business.