Economy Minister: mediation on Namakhvani HPP to be held in coming days under the leadership of EU
Natia Turnava said that the government has 'constant contact' with the Namakhvani HPP construction Turkish company Enka, which is ready to 'help find a compromise solution as much as possible'. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
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Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has announced that mediation on the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) that is planned to be built in western Georgia will be held in the coming days under the leadership of the European Union.
Turnava said that the government has 'constant contact' with the Namakhvani HPP construction Turkish company Enka, which is ready to 'help find a compromise solution as much as possible'.
Turnava said that Enka has already 'made quite significant compromises'.
For example, suspension of the dam construction completely, creation of an additional Rioni Gorge development fund, opening of all additional findings and research. Also, you know that we have met with experts and now we are waiting for the conclusion of the meeting from them. We will later send it to the investor and ask them to consider it or prepare counter-arguments", Turnava said.
Many activists and locals have been protesting the construction of the Namakhvani HPP for more than 200 days, claiming that the construction was launched without sufficient research and thorough consideration of risks, including immediate security risks due to active seismic activity.
The protesters say that in addition to the environmental threat, the government has 'relinquished state interests' in the contract with Enka.
Four major economic studies have been published by the Georgian Ministry of Economy which attest to the financial and economic viability of the Namakhvani HPP planned in western Georgia. The release of the reports comes following large protests against the construction of the power plant.
Police detained Irakli Mukbaniani, a protester against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) using disproportionate force, witnesses say. Mukbaniani was detained in the village of Sakulia in western Georgian region of Imereti for assaulting a police officer during a demonstration in Gumati village a couple of days ago.
Eight individuals protesting against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) in western Georgia have been detained after a clash between protesters and police in the village of Gumati last night, announces the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Protesters against the construction of the Namakhvani hydro power plant (HPP) in western Georgia have stopped their protest rally in the capital city of Tbilisi and say that they will continue the fight directly at the construction site of Namakhvani HPP.
Georgian authorities are negotiating with Enka, the Turkish contractor company for the contested Namakhvani hydro power plant in western Georgia, to improve the terms of the existing contract, including the unconditional transfer of land, water and other natural resources on a 99-year lease to Enka.
What have the gov’t, civil society, EU Energy Union agreed to?
Civil society and the government of Georgia have held the first meeting of negotiations concerning the disputed Namakhvani hydro power project on the Rioni river in western Georgia. The meeting was mediated by the EU Energy Union Dispute Resolution and Negotiation Center.