Two new hydropower plants earmarked for Georgia’s Svaneti region

Two new hydropower plants (HPP) will be built in Georgia’s Svaneti region to increase the country’s power generation capacity.

The construction of Mestiachala HPP 1 and Mestiachala HPP 2 started today on the river Mestiachala in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.

The total installed capacity of both HPPs will be 50MW, while the total cost of the project is $65 million.

About 50 locals will be employed at the construction site.

Georgia's Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said building these two HPPs in Svaneti was another step towards Georgia's energy independence. Photo by Georgia's Energy Ministry.

It is expected that the plant will be put into operation in December 2018. The annual generated power capacity is 175million KW/hour.

This is one more step towards our country’s energy independence. During constructing these HPPs the nearby territory will be developed, the infrastructure will be improved and will be suitable for tourists and first of all for the locals. Also, very important thing is that local people will be employed during the works,” said Georgia’s Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze.

The project will be implemented by Svaneti Hydro, whose founders are Georgia’s Renewable Energy Company (65 percent) and Austrian company RP Global Investment (35 percent).