Submitted by Saba Iakobidze, Regional Ambassador in Georgia of the 22nd Eco-generation Program

Tbilisi, Georgia

Development of hydro power plant (HPP) network in Georgia is a major source of energy, 80%[1]  of Georgian energy comes from HPPs, and is one of the most sustainable ways to generate pure energy.

Hydro energy is the cheapest kind of energy, but hydro power plants are expensive and hard to build correctly, while energy produced from hydro power plants are not polluting environment, but their construction does; HPPs cause negative impact on local flora and fauna, they also may lead to floods and destruction of habitats.[2]  Despite of the fact that hydro power is really cheap and sustainable for energy production, its construction affects more valuable aspects of our life, like wildlife and ecosystem. Now, you may ask what do HPPs have to do with the wildlife and our ecosystem, well answer is fairly simple, in progression of building dams habitats of flora and fauna are destroyed and animals have to move to other parts of the region and damage to some rare and sensitive floral species are unavoidable, which critically damages ecosystem. HPPs often cause destruction of people’s life (resettlement of towns and villages) and damage to historical villages and cultural heritage.[3]

Georgia has a great potential to build Hydro power plants because of many rivers that flow through the country, and if it is performed properly with environmental and social impact assessment, considering all risks and associated protective measures, it will benefit our country, and of course, the earth.

Georgia, has already got significant experience of operating HPPs. The first HPP in Georgia was built in Borjomi in 1898, and by 1913 there were already 7 small-size HPPs functioning in the country.[4] The Enguri Dam, part of the Enguri hydroelectric power station (HES), is a hydroelectric dam on the Enguri River in Georgia. Currently it is the world's second highest concrete arch dam with a height of 271.5 metres (891 ft).[5] Part of it is located in a breakaway region of Abkhazia (Georgia). Besides its direct function of generating electric power, Enguri HES represents an interesting case of cooperation between two conflicting sides of the Government of Georgia and the separatist authorities in Abkhazia, as the two sides have to use the facilities jointly and benefit from produced electricity.

Recently, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia signed the document which was about exploitation of dams in Georgia; for now ministry is planning to activate 11 of them which will produce 92 megawatts. Totally there will be 116 of these HPPs constructed and activated in nearest future, power of which is roughly 1,927 megawatts, they will produce 9093 million kilowatts per hour. Investment on this project is 2.97 billion dollars.[6] Nevertheless, building new HPPs is not an easy and straightforward process. Some of the projects are suspended by the locals and NGOs because of risk of flooding and other environmental and social problems the HPPs could cause.

In conclusion, we can say that Georgia has got solid hydro-energetic potential that can be used in good interest of country’s economic growth and development, however HPP projects must be developed only after comprehensive ESIA (environmental and social impact assessment) and eliminating impacts to environment and local communities.