Enguri Dam Granted Cultural Heritage Status

The National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritagge of Georgia has granted the “Engurhesi” arched dam cultural heritage status.

The Enguri hydroelectric power station (HES) started construction in 1961 and was finally completed in 1987.

It is a hydroelectric dam on the Enguri River in Georgia, located in the northwestern town of Jvari. The initiator of the project was the famous Georgian public figure Niko Nikoladze, who initiated the building of Engurhesi, but unfortunately the dam was completed after his death.

According to the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage announcement, the Engurhesi is the first industrial monument which will have a museum and media center for visitors, who will be able to see views of the surrounding area.

A special opening ceremony will be held in the town of Jvari. In the near future, the Energy Minister Khaka Kaladze, Minister of Culture and Monument Protection Mikheil Giorgadze and the Vice Prime Minister will meet and sing an agreement on the definition of national category of industrial heritage.

High officials and members of Parliament will attend the opening ceremony as well. Georgia expects that Enguri will be included in UNESCO’s world heritage list.

Nina Ioseliani