Construction on Georgia’s First Wind Plant Enters Final Stage

GORI, Georgia – Georgia’s first wind power plant – the first wind farm in the Caucasus region – is entering its final stage of construction, Georgia’s Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze announced on Thursday.

A subsidiary of the Georgian Energy Development Fund and Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation has been in charge of the USD 35 million Kartli Wind Power project in the Gori and Kareli municipalities in central Georgia.

“The Gori site will support the government’s strategy to foster low carbon generation and cover the country’s seasonal demand for power during the winter period,” Kaladze said.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) allocated $24 million to the project, or 70 per cent of the total cost of the project, with the remaining 30 per cent paid by the Georgian Energy Development Fund.

“We first signed on to take part in the construction at the beginning of 2016. This is the first project of its kind in the Caucasus. Gori is one of the most attractive places in the world regarding wind energy,” EBRD regional director Bruno Balvanera said.

Norwegian company Meventus, a leader in the wind power industry and a key advisor to the project, recommended a six-turbine scheme for the site with a designed capacity of 20.7 MW.

By Tamar Svanidze
Edited by Nicholas Waller

Photo: Kakha Kaladze