Italian firm completes study of Georgian Hydro Power Plant' cascade project
Georgia's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Kakhi Kaladze met with representatives of the Italian Studio Pietrangeli consulting company on Monday.
The company has completed a study of the construction project of the Namakhvani Hydro Power Plant cascade and submitted its results together with recommendations to the ministry.
According to the report, the ministry should consider these recommendations and adopt an appropriate decision.
Studio Pietrangeli studied the project during the year by order of the Namakhvani HPP Cascade Company.
Start of the construction of the Namakhvani power plant cascade, scheduled for the first half of 2013, has been postponed until a more detailed study takes place on the plant's potential influence on the environment and ecology of the region, as well as on the cultural heritage of the surrounding areas.
As a result of a consultation by international experts, it was stated that it is necessary to conduct additional geological and hydrological surveys, prepare environmental protection and social assessment projects, and finally, a more detailed analysis of the preservation of cultural heritage.
It is expected that all necessary studies will be completed in the second half of the current year.