Georgia : GEO: Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project
The Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project (the Project ) involves the construction and operation of a 185 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant in South West Georgia. The electricity will be sold to Turkey for 9 months and to the local market for 3 months in each year. Concessional loan from Canada was used to overcome a wide range of risks and help the project to achieve financial sustainability.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Kumar Saurabh
Private Sector Operations Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Georgia -
Modality
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Sector
- Energy
| Project Name | GEO: Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project | |||||
| Project Number | 47919-014 | |||||
| Borrower / Company | ADJARISTSQALI GEORGIA |
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| Country / Economy | Georgia |
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| Location | ||||||
| Type or Modality of Assistance |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Energy / Large hydropower generation |
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| Gender | No gender elements | |||||
| Responsible ADB Department | Private Sector Operations Department | |||||
| Responsible ADB Division | Portfolio Management Division, PSOD | |||||
| Responsible ADB Officer | Kumar Saurabh | |||||
| Project Sponsor(s) | Clean Energy Invest AS Tata Power |
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| Description | The Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project (the Project ) involves the construction and operation of a 185 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant in South West Georgia. The electricity will be sold to Turkey for 9 months and to the local market for 3 months in each year. Concessional loan from Canada was used to overcome a wide range of risks and help the project to achieve financial sustainability. | |||||
| Objectives and Scope | The project is expected to accelerate development of Georgia's hydropower sector by catalyzing more private sector investment and increasing cross-border energy trading in the region. Concessional loan from Canada was used to overcome a wide range of risks and help the project to achieve financial sustainability. | |||||
| Status of Development Objectives | The Project is partially meeting the development goals. XARR was completed in June 2023. | |||||
| Status of Operation/Construction | The Project has achieved commissioning in March 2021. Due to missing hydrology and dry hydrology during first year of operations, generation was lower than the budgeted in FY2020 and FY2021. For FY2022, AGL reported higher generation as a result of better hydrology than projected and tariff realization in export sales. For H1 FY2023, AGL reported higher generation but revenues were low as compared with H1 FY2022. | |||||
| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The project is consistent with ADB's Strategy 2020 namely: inclusive growth; environmentally sustainable growth; and regional integration. The project is in line with ADB's first country partnership strategy (CPS), 2014-2018, which is being prepared for circulation to the board. The CPS mentions importance of upgrading and developing energy infrastructure. The project is also consistent with the country operations business plan (COBP) 2014-2016, which emphasizes financing of renewable energy projects through nonsovereign operations. |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | A |
| Involuntary Resettlement | A |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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| Environmental Aspects | The project is classified category A for environmental aspect under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) identified potential risks and impacts associated with construction and operation activities, including impacts on biodiversity, water quality, downstream flows, geology, and health and safety. An environmental and social management plan (ESMP) was prepared, including a series of management plans as part of the construction environmental management plan. AGL and the Lenders agreed on an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) for construction and operation. In October 2016, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the 35 kV TL transmission line was prepared for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia; and it was approved on the 20 April 2017. To meet lenders' requirements, a supplemental environmental and social (E&S) Assessment and ESMP for the 35 kV transmission line was prepared and disclosed in August 2017. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project is classified category A for involuntary resettlement under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). Initially, it was assessed that the project would require 44 hectares (ha) of land (9 ha of it privately owned and 35 ha of it are state-owned land used mainly for grazing). A total of 275 affected households were initially identified, of which 72 were losing 10% or more of their land and 7 were losing at least 50%. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 240.22 ha of land was acquired for the project, affecting 515 households. Of these, 115 (22%) lost 10% or more of their productive land. No physical displacement occurred due to the project. The majority of affected households reported incomes below the minimum wage per capita. AGL implemented a detailed livelihood restoration program that addressed the loss of livelihoods The implementation of the LARLP and the corrective action plan was regularly audited by the external environmental and social monitor, Arup, and the audit reports are available on ADB website. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project is classified category C for indigenous people under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). Initial information from the ESIA indicates that the project will not have any impact on Indigenous People. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | A Stakeholder Engagement Plan was developed, implemented, and updated during the construction and operation phases. Consultation has been conducted with relevant stakeholders, including affected peoples, municipalities, and NGOs. Stakeholder engagement continues during operation phase of the project. |
| Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 11 Mar 2014 |
| Credit Committee Meeting | 31 Mar 2014 |
| Approval | 19 May 2014 |
| PDS Creation Date | 26 Jun 2013 |
| Last PDS Update | 08 Aug 2023 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
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| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project: Extended Annual Review Report | Extended Annual Review Reports | Jun 2023 |
| Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project: Stakeholder Engagement Plan - Operational Phase | Documents Produced Under Grant/Loans/TA | Jan 2020 |
| Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project: Project Data Sheet (ქართული) | Translated PDS | May 2014 |
| Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Apr 2014 |
| Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project | Initial Poverty and Social Analysis | May 2013 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
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