Georgian authorities promise Namakhvani HPP project will continue 'with better conditions'
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that 'under the current conditions the Namakhvani HPP project will not continue'. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that 'under the current conditions the Namakhvani HPP project will not continue'.
I hope we will make the investor agree on the best interests of our country; to build a hydropower plant with even better conditions, which will be in the best interests of our population, including the citizens who oppose the Namakhvani hydropower plant", Gharibashvili said.
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said that the Namakhvani HPP project, which is 'important for our country and strengthens the state in terms of energy', will be implemented only in an 'improved and safe way'.
She said that while a 12-month moratorium has been announced for the construction of Namakhvani dam in the Imereti region, 'everything must be done to improve the project'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Turkish contractor company Enka, who had intended to construct the Namakhvani hydro power plant on the Rioni river in western Georgia, has notified the government of Georgia that it is terminating the $800 million project in the country. The statement published by the company reads that the reason for the cancellation of the contract with the Georgian government is the ‘violation of the terms of the contract and force majeure’.
'We will continue a dialogue with the investor over the next month'
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that over the next month the government will continue communication with Enka, the Turkish contractor company for the Namakhvani hydro power plant to be built on the Rioni river in western Georgia, but who terminated the contract last week.