PM: we should build as many hydropower plants in Georgia as possible

Georgia’s energy consumption requires the country to build as many hydropower plants as possible, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday while speaking on matters of investment and energy independence.

Garibashvili announced the business sector would be offered a “relevant package” by the Government within the upcoming week to begin construction of new HPPs in the country.

We will develop and present the model in a few days, and I think next week I will have the opportunity to make this offer to the business, in order to facilitate the construction of generation facilities in the field,” Garibashvili said. 

The PM pointed out the country’s increasing demand for electricity, saying the consumption for power had been growing while the generation “lagged significantly behind” demand. Garibashvili called the tendency “risky” for Georgia’s energy security and energy independence. 

Electricity production in Georgia decreased by 5.9 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, and totalled 11,159.8 million kWh. The consumption of electricity in the country also decreased in 2020 by 4.8 percent year-on-year, amounting to 11,479.3 million kWh.

Georgia saw a number of public protests over the recent years around deals for construction of HPPs in regions of the country - signed between the Government and private companies - with residents of areas subject to the construction plans demanding shelving of the projects that would affect their localities.