First meeting of Namakhvani HPP mediation talks:
What have the gov’t, civil society, EU Energy Union agreed to?
The meeting was mediated by the EU Energy Union Dispute Resolution and Negotiation Center. Photo: Green Alternative.
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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.
The parties have agreed on a number of measures to be taken on three main subjects:
- Effective and transparent control of the conditions in the construction and environmental permits and their review by independent experts
- A de-escalation of the situation in the Rioni valley
- An open debate on Georgia’s future energy security on the basis of the draft National Energy and Climate Plan
Deputy Director Dirk Buschle of the EU Energy Union Dispute Resolution and Negotiation Center, the mediator of the negotiations held on June 15, said that now 'the most important and urgent of these actions is de-escalation on the spot at Rioni'.
Peaceful protests and access to the valley must be possible again, while the safety of people and property, on both sides of the fence, needs to be ensured", he said.
Buschle stated that it is the government's responsibility to 'take the appropriate measures'.
It committed to replacing the existing barriers and ensuring access to the main road. It will also report on the detainment of protesters. The protesters, on the other hand, have committed to not blocking access to the construction site. It is important to respect these commitments", he said.
On June 9 Georgian authorities announced they are negotiating with Enka, the Turkish contractor company for the Namakhvani HPP, 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 the Namakhvani dam in the Imereti region, 'everything must be done to improve the project'.
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 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.
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.