– Q: Mr. Koberidze, how would you describe hydropower and is it considered a green energy source?
A: Hydropower is not only a green and renewable energy resource but also a more stable energy source compared to wind and solar power. Unlike wind and solar plants, which depend heavily on weather conditions, hydropower plants provide a consistent and reliable energy supply. Furthermore, hydropower plants produce significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other forms of energy. Greenhouse gases are a major contributor to global warming, and many countries are tackling global warming by transitioning to renewable, green energy sources. For example, Bakhvi 2 HPP is expected to prevent the emission of 55,000 tons of greenhouse gases over its operational lifecycle, which is equivalent to the emissions from consuming 24,000 tons of gasoline.
– Q: You often discuss environmental aspects and the mitigation measures needed to minimize the impact on biodiversity during the construction and operation of hydropower plants. How are these addressed?
A: Biodiversity, climate, and accumulation studies have been conducted by foreign experts, who provided comprehensive recommendations for impact reduction and mitigation. Some recommendations focus on minimizing and avoiding impacts, while others address compensating for the impacts that do occur. It’s a challenging but exciting period for us. On one hand, we need to build the hydropower plant; on the other hand, my team and I must ensure that best practices for mitigating biodiversity impacts are implemented effectively.
– Q: You mentioned your team. How many people are working with you?
A: Currently, our Environmental and Social Issues Department consists of four members, including myself. We work out of the Ozurgeti office but spend most of our time in the field. Our team includes Maia Chavleishvili from Mtispiri, who serves as the community lliaisons officer and regularly meets with the local communities of Mtispiri and Chokhatauri to gather their feedback and recommendations. We also have Nodar Tkhelidze, our environmental protection officer, and Mose Datunashvili, a native of the village of Dvabzu, who works as a forestry engineer and oversees forestry operations.
Our. If you love your country, its people, and the environment you live in, and if you recognize that future generations will live here, you will take responsibility to do your job well. When the project is completed, you should be proud to look back and tell your children about your significant contribution to its successresponsibilities are divided between environmental and social issues. Both areas are critical: one focuses on environmental protection and biodiversity, while the other addresses human factors. This reflects our company’s mission: we care about people, the environment, and regional development. We understand the seriousness of our responsibilities and approach our tasks with great diligence.