Short description of the overall project

The Project aims to make improvements to Enguri HPP to alleviate critical power shortage in Georgia at a low cost and to enhance the environmental benefits of the Enguri Hydro Power Plant facility.

The Project generally aims at

• increasing the availability of non-polluting renewable energy in the country; and
• improving operational safety of the Enguri power facility.

Short description of activities financed by the donation

The project will be targeting further improvements to the reliability and operational performance of the Enguri power plant through a rehabilitation programme for the Enguri headrace tunnel and penstock. The Project will also finance rehabilitation of Enguri switchyard, Vardnili II spillway gates, Enguri river diversion weir and access road, together with implementation of sedimentation management plan and improved operational procedures to promote resilience to climatic variability and climate change. The Project will enable the country to enhance production of the most economic source of electricity in the Georgian context. It will also contribute to the balancing of the Georgian electricity system and supports the market operation.

The project will deliver 'Green' transition impact, with

(i) strong climate change mitigation benefits through increasing the energy efficiency of a major hydropower plant, and
(ii) strong climate change adaptation benefits through supporting the development of climate resilient infrastructure by strengthening the regulatory environment for hydropower operations on a river basin level.