Prime minister: New HPP to be commissioned in Georgia by late 2013

Paravani Hydropower Plant (HPP) will be put into operation by the end of 2013, Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri said during President Mikhail Saakashvili's familiarization with work planned for 2011-2012.

Construction of hydropower plant on the Paravani River has been carried out by Turkish Georgian Urban Energy Company since 2009. Total investment in the project amounts to $125 million.

"In this region, where Paravani HPP is built, thousands of people are employed, and it is very important for Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza and Ninotsminda, where high unemployment is recorded," Saakashvili said.

He said a railway is built in the same region that would link Georgia with the Chinese railways. Construction of two highways Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki and Akhalkalaki-Batumi continues.

"As a result, we will have a region with developed infrastructure and high potential for tourism development. Thousands of local people will be employed here and tens of thousands of tourists will come here," said the President.

Capacity of the HPP is 78 megawatts, and annual production - 425 million kilowatt/hours.


/Trend/