Bakhvi HPP Advisory Board Working Meeting

On June 8, 2022, a regular meeting of the Project Management and Environmental and Social Affairs Board was held at the Ozurgeti office of Bakhvi 1 Hydropower Plant (Address: M. Kostava 25, Ozurgeti). The purpose of the meeting was to provide information to the members of the Advisory Board on the submission of the scoping report of Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant. The company submitted the scoping report to the National Environment Agency for consideration on 02.06. 2022.

The company management informed the board members in detail about the technical parameters of the project and the environmental and social aspects of Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant.

"We introduced important news to the members of the Advisory Board today. A new project has been added to the portfolio of Caucasus Clean Energy Holding (CCEH) in the form of Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant. It has been repeatedly stated in the Board format that it would be beneficial if existing hydropower projects in the Bakhvitskali River Valley were in possession of one company, as in this case a single standard would be adopted for both the construction and operation phases of the hydropower plant. Based on this approach and also heeding advice of our international experts, we have purchased the Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant Project and improved the technical scheme. We submitted the project’s scoping report to the National Environment Agency last week in accordance with the law, and expect public review of the report to be held this month,” said Davit Mikeladze, Bakhvi 2 HPP ESG Manager.

The meeting of the Bakhvi HPP Environment and Social Affairs Board was attended by Pierre Biedermann, French expert on environment and social aspects invited by the company. Mr. Pierre Biedermann was actively involved in the Bakhvi 1 research process, considering the high standards and reliability of the reports he developed, the company decided to involve him in the Bakhvi 2 research process as well. He was commissioned by the company to conduct research and prepare recommendations for the micro and macro climate and cumulative impacts of the project. He delivered the results of his research to board members during his presentation.

An interesting discussion was held at the meeting of the Advisory Board and exchange of views around the planned projects took place. The board members shared their recommendations with the company representatives.

At the meeting of the Advisory Board, the representatives of the company introduced a new member of the Board, entrepreneur Ms. Ia Urushadze, nominated to the Board by the Ozurgeti Municipality. Ms. Urushadze has worked since 2011 with an organization carrying out child care and welfare reforms. Under the organization are two small family homes and one day care center for children at risk of abandonment. She is also a representative of the Georgian Red Cross Organization in Ozurgeti Municipality. She is also experienced in agricultural enterprises. Ms. Urushadze has a family honey production and coordinates hospitality area in the Tea Road Association.

To remind, the Bakhvi HPP Environmental and Social Advisory Board is a consultative body created at the initiative of the company aimed at higher engaging of stakeholders and bringing in greater transparency in hydropower projects. The Board consists of 12 independent members nominated by Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti municipalities. Members of various sectors are represented in the Board from local self-government bodies, non-governmental organizations, media, and businesses.