The News in Brief
Wednesday, October 16
By Lizi Zurabiani
Khadori 3 HPP, planned for Pankisi Gorge to be built elsewhere
Khadori 3 HPP, originally planned to be constructed in Pankisi Gorge may be built elsewhere. The possibility was not ruled out by the director of the HPP construction company “Peri”, Lasha Jordan, who said that 90% of the Pankisi population would not agree to continue the construction of Khadori 3.
According to him, from November, they will try to persuade the population that it is necessary to build a 5-megawatt HPP in Pankisi that has been suspended due to population protests.
“From next month we will try to explain to the population again and we hope that we will get 90% support. If I can't, I don't know, then maybe we'll change the location. We will make this decision together with the state. The requirement that we have the support of 90% of the population is valid,” Jordanashvili said.
However, the director of "Peri" also spoke about specific NGOs, which he said had misled and deceived Pankisi population.
“The locals have been misinformed and lied to, how could anyone be against something like this? It is a completely harmless project. There is a specific NGO, Green Alternative, which always protests any hydropower project at any cost. If you build a gas and heat station, they have no problem, the main thing is not to build a hydro station. In the case of Pankisi, EMC was added to the Green Alternative, which played a very bad role and what happened was the lion's share of their fault. On April 21st, when people came out to protest against the construction of the power plant, they would tell us that they wanted our exile, they wanted us to be cut off. That is how they worked, provided such information. I say with full responsibility, the HPP, which even had no headquarters, did not flood a single square meter, we did not touch anyone’s private property in any way, plus there was a lot of social news attached to the project,” Jordanashvili said.
It has been about two years since the company “Peri” obtained a permit to build Khadori 3 on the Alazani River in Pankisi, but construction has not started yet, which, Jordanisvishvili said, is hurting not only the company but the country as well.
“As a result of the delay of the project, the damage was considerable, and not only the state suffered, as it had to import electricity into the force majeure. When I say that the HPP will be put into operation on this day and I will supply the system with a specific amount of electricity, this is in the balance, but if the HPP cannot be built and cannot be delivered, the state has to buy it from neighboring countries at double the price. Not to mention that I was hurt, the technology got worse. We had to look at it on a larger scale. In the end, it damages the image of the country. It's about investing. Overall, there was a lot of damage against the country and me,” Jordanishvili said.
We remind you that on April 21, the protest of locals in Pankisi Gorge was followed by the resumption of construction of the 5-megawatt Khadori-3 HPP, which turned into a confrontation with law enforcement. After the aggravation of the situation, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who was then the Minister of Internal Affairs at the time, arrived on the scene. He said after the emergency meeting with locals that the HPP would be built only if 90% of the locals would support it.
The Khadori-3 is being built on the Alazani River by the company “Peri” and its subsidiary “Alazani Energy”.
Construction of new power plant begins in Pankisi
Construction of a new power plant begins in Pankisi. Construction of the 27-megawatt HPP "Clover Water 2" will start in November and will be carried out by the company “Peri”. According to Lasha Jordanishvili, the 27-megawatt HPP would be 15 kilometers from the village.
“We have already obtained permission for the construction of the “Clover Water 2” and we will start the process in November,” the company director said.
Asked whether it is expected for locals to protest the construction of the 27-megawatt HPP, as was the case for the start of another Khadori-3 power plant, Jordanishvili said, "Destructive actions are still expected from specific NGOs," though the plant is 15 kilometers from the village. Remote and with no connection to locals whatsoever.
“The locals have never resisted, but my 'friends' may still do something destructive. Misleading the population that they will be irradiated, resettled ... There have never been such problems. We have two stations built in Pankisi and on the contrary, they have always been friendly, the locals are employed with us. Therefore, I am sure that they have not and will not have any objection, especially as the population is expecting something good, the existing line passing through the village should be moved, employment will be provided, and more space will be provided for grazing as we make our way to the area. Why should they object when we don't even bother them? A hydroelectric power station is 15 kilometers from the last house. So, there is no crossing with them,” said the director of “Peri.”
We remind you that on April 21 this year, the resumption of construction works of the 5-megawatt Khadori-3 HPP in Pankisi was followed by a protest by locals, which turned into a confrontation with law enforcement.
Khadori 3 HPP, planned for Pankisi Gorge to be built elsewhere
Khadori 3 HPP, originally planned to be constructed in Pankisi Gorge may be built elsewhere. The possibility was not ruled out by the director of the HPP construction company “Peri”, Lasha Jordan, who said that 90% of the Pankisi population would not agree to continue the construction of Khadori 3.
According to him, from November, they will try to persuade the population that it is necessary to build a 5-megawatt HPP in Pankisi that has been suspended due to population protests.
“From next month we will try to explain to the population again and we hope that we will get 90% support. If I can't, I don't know, then maybe we'll change the location. We will make this decision together with the state. The requirement that we have the support of 90% of the population is valid,” Jordanashvili said.
However, the director of "Peri" also spoke about specific NGOs, which he said had misled and deceived Pankisi population.
“The locals have been misinformed and lied to, how could anyone be against something like this? It is a completely harmless project. There is a specific NGO, Green Alternative, which always protests any hydropower project at any cost. If you build a gas and heat station, they have no problem, the main thing is not to build a hydro station. In the case of Pankisi, EMC was added to the Green Alternative, which played a very bad role and what happened was the lion's share of their fault. On April 21st, when people came out to protest against the construction of the power plant, they would tell us that they wanted our exile, they wanted us to be cut off. That is how they worked, provided such information. I say with full responsibility, the HPP, which even had no headquarters, did not flood a single square meter, we did not touch anyone’s private property in any way, plus there was a lot of social news attached to the project,” Jordanashvili said.
It has been about two years since the company “Peri” obtained a permit to build Khadori 3 on the Alazani River in Pankisi, but construction has not started yet, which, Jordanisvishvili said, is hurting not only the company but the country as well.
“As a result of the delay of the project, the damage was considerable, and not only the state suffered, as it had to import electricity into the force majeure. When I say that the HPP will be put into operation on this day and I will supply the system with a specific amount of electricity, this is in the balance, but if the HPP cannot be built and cannot be delivered, the state has to buy it from neighboring countries at double the price. Not to mention that I was hurt, the technology got worse. We had to look at it on a larger scale. In the end, it damages the image of the country. It's about investing. Overall, there was a lot of damage against the country and me,” Jordanishvili said.
We remind you that on April 21, the protest of locals in Pankisi Gorge was followed by the resumption of construction of the 5-megawatt Khadori-3 HPP, which turned into a confrontation with law enforcement. After the aggravation of the situation, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who was then the Minister of Internal Affairs at the time, arrived on the scene. He said after the emergency meeting with locals that the HPP would be built only if 90% of the locals would support it.
The Khadori-3 is being built on the Alazani River by the company “Peri” and its subsidiary “Alazani Energy”.
Construction of new power plant begins in Pankisi
Construction of a new power plant begins in Pankisi. Construction of the 27-megawatt HPP "Clover Water 2" will start in November and will be carried out by the company “Peri”. According to Lasha Jordanishvili, the 27-megawatt HPP would be 15 kilometers from the village.
“We have already obtained permission for the construction of the “Clover Water 2” and we will start the process in November,” the company director said.
Asked whether it is expected for locals to protest the construction of the 27-megawatt HPP, as was the case for the start of another Khadori-3 power plant, Jordanishvili said, "Destructive actions are still expected from specific NGOs," though the plant is 15 kilometers from the village. Remote and with no connection to locals whatsoever.
“The locals have never resisted, but my 'friends' may still do something destructive. Misleading the population that they will be irradiated, resettled ... There have never been such problems. We have two stations built in Pankisi and on the contrary, they have always been friendly, the locals are employed with us. Therefore, I am sure that they have not and will not have any objection, especially as the population is expecting something good, the existing line passing through the village should be moved, employment will be provided, and more space will be provided for grazing as we make our way to the area. Why should they object when we don't even bother them? A hydroelectric power station is 15 kilometers from the last house. So, there is no crossing with them,” said the director of “Peri.”
We remind you that on April 21 this year, the resumption of construction works of the 5-megawatt Khadori-3 HPP in Pankisi was followed by a protest by locals, which turned into a confrontation with law enforcement.