Georgia welcomes RusHydro’s interest in HPP construction
By Sabina Idayatova
Georgian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Kakha Kaladze met representatives of the Russian Company RusHydro in Tbilisi on Apr.12. The Russian delegation is led by the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors of RusHydro Giorgi Rezhinashvili.
Following the meeting, Kaladze said that it was an introductory meeting and they had a general discussion, interpressnews/ge reported.
"It's important and pleasant that such big companies are
interested in the construction of hydro power stations in our
country," Kaladze said adding that RusHydro is one of the largest
in the Russian Federation and last year it had a profit of $1
billion.
Kaladze said that relevant working groups will be set up by both
sides and then specific projects will be discussed.
"The Ministry will present projects and then a decision will be made about whether they will carry out the proposed projects,' he noted.
RusHydro is the largest Russian company, ranking second among
hydroelectric power producers in the world after Canada's
Hydro-Quebec. The installed capacity of power plants included in
RusHydro is 35.2 GW.
Earlier, Kaladze said that Georgia has great potential due to using
its existing resources to be an independent energy and electricity
exporting country.
Speaking at the presentation of international experts'
conclusion on the Khudoni hydroelectric power station construction
project on Wednesday, Kaladze said that the energy security is of
great importance for Georgia and the ministry will do everything to
achieve this goal.
"Our approach is to maximally use the country's resources. That is,
to build the hydroelectric power stations to turn the country into
becoming energy self-regulating," Kaladze said.
Hydro resources take the first place among the natural riches of
Georgia. After Georgia became independent in 1991, the process of
energy sector rehabilitation was started. The Government approved
the State Program - Renewable Energy 2008 which includes the list
of potential Greenfield projects and rules for construction of new
renewable energy sources.