Austrian, Georgian professionals working to implement digital management for Georgia’s largest hydropower plant

Georgia’s digital technology company UGT and Austria's largest electricity provider Verbund have teamed up to implement digital management at the Enguri hydropower plant, the largest electricity-producing infrastructure in Georgia, the Ministry of Economy announced on Tuesday.

A delegation from the Austrian company met the Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze to discuss the project, which is currently in the first phase of its implementation. The stage involves an in-depth analysis and “preparation of technical tasks” for the next phase.

A meeting between the officials from the Ministry of Economy of Georgia and Verbund. Photo: Ministry of Economy

Mikautadze said transition of Enguri HPP to digital management was “essential” for ensuring a “more effective, safe, operative and sustainable operation”.

Besides, in the case of hydroelectric plants in Georgia, this will be a precedent for the introduction of digital management”, he said.

The Ministry also said the visiting professionals would also inspect the part of the plant’s infrastructure located on the territory of the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia.

Georgian and Abkhazian professionals are jointly operating the plant and distributing the electricity, with an informal agreement leading to the population in the region consuming 40 percent of the generated power and residents on the Georgian-controlled territory being allocated 60 percent.