Public hearing of the Scoping Report regarding the project of changes applied to construction and operation conditions of Bakhvi 2 HPP

Public hearing of the scoping report regarding the project of changes applied to construction and operation conditions of the run-off-river type Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant was held on June 22, 2022, at the Administrative Building of the village Mtispiri, Ozurgeti Municipality.

In accordance with the Environmental Assessment Code, the authorized environmental decision-making body and the organizer of the public hearing is the National Environmental Agency which is a Legal Entity of Public Law (LEPL) in the framework of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.  The public hearing at the Mtispiri Administrative Building started as scheduled, at 12:00. Representative of the National Environmental Agency, Mr. Levan Ozbetelashvili opened the public hearing with introductory remarks about public participation in the process, timeline and procedure how public can submit questions or comments about the Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant Project to the agency. After that he gave the floor to the implementing company Bakhvi 2 LLC  Director Mikheil Nibladze. Bakhvi 2 HPP team representatives delivered detailed presentations regarding project's technical parameters, environmental surveys and mitigation measures as well as the social program.  

The public hearing was attended by, Mayor's representative in Mtispiri Vladimer Chavleshvili, Administration staff members, representatives of NGOs, media and businesses, as well as residents of Project adjacent villages  - Mtispiri, Valiskedi, Okroskedi and Ukanava, including educators from local schools and kindergartens.

"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 within the advisory council format and during our various meetings with locals, 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 similar high level standard would be adopted for both construction and operation phases of the hydropower plant. Based on this approach, we have purchased the Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant Project and together with our international experts, technical parameters of the project were altered and improved, and the area under impact has been significantly reduced. The mitigation measures proposed by the international experts, based on the studies conducted, would help substantially avoid and minimize the impact. As a result of changes made in the project, we have to go through a standard permitting process - first to obtain Scoping Opinion from the National Environmental Agency, and after submitting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report, to obtain the Environmental Decision from the agency. Proper management of environmental and social aspects is an important factor for the local population and civil society. We would like to emphasize once again the fact that we are building and operating projects in accordance with both Georgian legislation and internationally recognized standards" -  said Mikheil Nibladze, Bakhvi 2 HPP Director.

The hearing proceeded in the Q&A format and the attending audience noted that the company had regular and fruitful consultations  with the population of the adjacent villages and develop a social program based on the existing needs.

According to the "Environmental Assessment Code", after the successful completion of scoping, project will move to the EIA stage.

The Scoping Report of the Bakhvi 2 Hydropower Plant Project was submitted to the National Environmental Agency on June 2, 2022. Agency made the document public on it's official website on June 6, 2022.

Please visit the statement and document with its annexes published by the National Environmental Agency at https://nea.gov.ge/En/GZSH/194/