The messenger logo

Another new power station opens

By Ernest Petrosyan
Thursday, April 23
On April 16 another new micro hydro power plant [HPP] established as part of international development agency USAID’s rural energy programme was opened in the Napareuli village in Telavi region. The Lopota HPP was opened by Director of the USAID mission in Georgia Robert Wilson and Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri.

The construction of the Lopota HPP began in 2003 and was completed in March 2009. With USAID’s financial and technical support the facility produces 12.823 million KWHS of electricity per year and provides energy for about 5,000 homes.

The cost of the project was jointly covered by a USAID grant of 152,000 USD and a private individual, who invested 330,000 which he had received as a five-year bank loan. The project will generate approximately USD 1.5 million in electricity revenues over the next five years.

“The Lopota HPP’s original purpose was to supply power to surrounding villages and support agricultural activities in the district by supplying water through irrigation channels. Currently, with most of Georgia being part of the national grid, the Electricity System Commercial Operator (ESCO) and potentially some other local industries as direct customers will purchase the plant’s output,” stated Khetaguri. He also stated that the HPP will substantially improve economic and social conditions in the region and act as one more example of a successful commercial HPP development.

Speaking to The Messenger Alexander Khetaguri stated that since 2006 Georgia has been energy self-sufficient and the country exports 10% of the energy it produces. Georgia exports energy to Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and within the next two years energy will become Georgia’s main export.