Public Hearing of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of the Bakhvi 1 Hydropower Plant Project Held in Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti

Public hearing of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for construction and operation of the run-off-river Bakhvi 1 Hydropower Plant was held on February 10, 2022, at the Administrative Buildings of Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti Municipalities respectively.

The organizer of the public hearings was the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. The Ministry representative presented with introductory remarks the Bakhvi 1 Hydropower Plant Project and gave the floor to the implementing company CCEH Hydro VI Director Mikheil Nibladze. In his remarks, Project Technical Manager Gigla Sikharulidze focused on project's technical parameters and Project ESG Manager David Mikeladze reviewed the studies conducted, environmental issues and social program.

In Chokhatauri, the public hearing was attended by Chokhatauri Mayor David Sharashidze, Council Chairman Irakli Kuchava, Deputy Council Chairman Zaal Mamaladze, Council members, Municipality staff members, representatives of NGOs, media and businesses, as well as residents of Chokhatauri and Project adjacent villages. Local educators also attended the public hearing.

The audience attending the public hearing in Chokhatauri supported the project. It was noted at the hearing that the activities carried out by the company in one year were essential for transformation of perceptions and attitudes voiced in the beginning of the previous year. The studies carried out by the company through the engagement of international experts and changes to technical parameters and location were crucial for the positive decision made by the locals.

The public hearing at the Ozurgeti Municipality Administrative Building kicked off as scheduled, at 16:30. The hearing was attended by Ozurgeti Municipality Mayor Avtandail Talakvadze, Municipality staff members, representatives of NGOs, media and businesses, as well as residents of Ozurgeti and Project adjacent villages, including educators from local schools and kindergartens.

The hearing proceeded in the Q&A format and the attending audience noted that the company spared no effort in working with the population of the adjacent villages and providing them with information to develop a social program based on the existing needs. The NGO representatives emphasized that technical parameters of the project were altered and improved, the impoundment area significantly reduced, and mitigation measures proposed by the international experts, based on the studies conducted, would help substantially minimize the impact.

The representatives of the Mtispiri Community villages attending the public hearing fully supported the project.

Herein, we would like to inform you of the schedule for the public hearings on February 11:

10:30 - Ozurgeti Municipality, Mtispiri Village Administrative Unit Building

16:30 - Chokhtauri Municipality, Chkhakaura Village Administrative Building

In accordance with the Environmental Assessment Code, the authorized environmental decision-making body is the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.             

The EIA Report of the Bakhvi 1 Hydropower Plant Project was submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia on December 20 2021, and was made public on the official Ministry website on December 23 2021