10 June 2021, 08:24
Garibashvili rules out construction of Namakhvan HPP on current conditions
The government will seek better conditions from the "Enka" Company for the construction of the Namakhvan hydroelectric power plant (HPP), Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, has stated.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 27, opponents of the construction of the Namakhvan HPP stopped their protests in Tbilisi and resumed their action in the village of Gumati in Western Georgia, where they blocked the office of the "Enka" Company, which is building the HPP.
Protests against the construction of the Namakhvan HPP continue for almost six months. On March 29, the Prime Minister of Georgia announced that the construction of the Namakhvan HPP would be suspended for 9-12 months in order to thoroughly check its impact on the environment. However, on April 4, the preparatory works for the construction of the Namakhvan cascade of hydroelectric power plants were resumed despite Georgian authorities' promises.
Under existing conditions, the realization of the Namakhvan HPP project will not continue, Premier Garibashvili said on June 9. According to his story, negotiations are underway with investors on the construction of the HPP on more favourable terms. "As for the Namakhvan HPP project, as you know, I inherited this problem and am actively working on it. I can say that we'll not continue the project on such conditions," Mr Garibashvili said during his stay in Kutaisi.
"We are talking with the investor, and I hope that we'll come to an agreement so that they are guided by our country's interests and build the HPP on even better conditions," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has translated the Premier's words.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 9, 2021 at 07:42 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Galina Gotua Source: CK correspondent
