On December 21, 2022, a public review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the construction and operation of the planned Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant (Bakhvi 2a and Bakhvi 2b) took place in the administrative building of the Ozurgeti municipality, Mtispiri village. This project, which will operate on the natural runoff of the Bakhvistskal River, was thoroughly discussed with community members and stakeholders.
The National Environment Agency organized the public hearing. The agency's representative presented the Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant project. Key speakers included:
• Valery Khachidze, Project Development Manager, who discussed the technical parameters of the project. • Nana Berdzenishvili, Manager of Environmental and Social Issues at the Caucasus Clean Energy Holding, who reviewed the conducted research and environmental issues. • Giorgi Abramishvili, Director of Bakhvi HPP, who elaborated on the social program associated with the project.
The public discussion saw participation from various stakeholders, including: • Vladimir Chavlesvili, Representative of the Mayor of Mtispiri. • Irma Gordeladze, Founder of the environmental organization Eco. • Otar Revishvili, Head of the Institute of Innovations and Changes. • Representatives from the educational sector. • Residents from the villages adjacent to the project area (Mtispiri, Okroskedi, Vaniskedi, and Ukanava).
The meeting was conducted in a question-and-answer format, with attendees primarily interested in employment opportunities and environmental impacts. After a comprehensive two-hour discussion, the attending public expressed their support for the project. They appreciated the transparency of the process, the studies conducted with international experts, and the improved technical parameters of the project.
The non-governmental sector representatives highlighted the enhancements in the project's technical parameters and the proposed mitigation measures based on studies by foreign experts. These improvements are expected to significantly minimize environmental impacts.
The authorized environmental decision-making body, according to the "Environmental Assessment Code," is the National Environment Agency. The EIA report for Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant was submitted to the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia on October 20, 2022, and published on the official website of the Ministry on November 14, 2022.
For more details, please refer to the statement published by the National Environment Agency at the following link: National Environment Agency