India-based Tata Power has completed the construction of the 187MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power Project (HPP) in Georgia.
This is the largest hydropower plant to be constructed in the country over the last five decades.
The cost of the project exceeded $420m.
Construction of the facility began in 2013.
This project had seen construction of one weir and two dams with their respective reservoirs and connecting tunnels to channelise water in order to generate power.
The water conductor system comprises three tunnels with cumulative length of 33.48km and 3.75km of construction adits.
Besides producing around 470GWh of power, this project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 200,000t annually.
The power produced will be exclusively sold within Georgia, especially during the winter, which is when the country faces energy deficit.
Tata Power's chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Anil Sardana said: “It is indeed an important plant as it satisfies Georgia's electricity demand during winter, reducing dependence on imported fuel and increasing renewable energy output. We are grateful to our strategic partners, Clean Energy and IFC InfraVentures, for putting us on a strong footing for this project."
