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Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Minimizing harm to an environment is the core objective of the Ministry upon implementing any initiative

Environmental policy of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) has been tailored to minimize potential harm to an environment regardless of a scale of any project. In 2020, upon adopting a decision (environmental decision) on Namakhvani HPP project, preliminary and detailed studies had preceded the process, which entailed various elements, such as fieldwork, hydrology, geology, biological diversity and other. Study had been a long-term process, which ensured engagement of Georgian and foreign experts and professionals. Frankly speaking, preliminary project had been amended several times, upon assessment and findings of the respective experts. Initially, the project entailed construction of three-layers cascade (Tvishi, Namakhvani and Zhoneti); however, detailed study and assessment resulted into emphasizing harmful influence on environment and amending the project. In 2015, the respective permission had been granted for constructing two-layer cascade (Tvishi dam and Namakhvani-Zhoneti dam) and exploitation. Later, a decision had been made on amending the primary version of the project upon optimization, which preceded additional study upon fieldwork within the scope of the project. In 2020, the Ministry adopted an environmental decision solely on lower Namakhvani project; the latter decision has minimized negative affect on an environment to a greater extent. 


With regard to an approved decision’s term, which has become subjected to scrutiny from various stakeholder organizations – it shall be noted that an incumbent legislation has determined terms of an environmental decision, which are obligatory to adhere throughout construction and exploitation period, as well as beyond. Therefore, the Ministry, upon adopting the decision and setting forth the relevant terms, has safeguarded minimizing possible risks that could arise through undertaking construction or exploitation activities; therefore, speculating on the latter matter is groundless. 


Two public meetings on scoping and environmental impact assessment have been hosted by the MEPA with regard to the lower Namakhvani project’s administrative proceedings, as an effort to complement decision-making process. During these two meetings, local dwellers have been empowered to express their stance, opinions and concerns. It shall be noted that these meetings were also attended by representatives of those organizations, which are part to the statement. The Ministry has acquired all the capacities set forth by the legislation for disseminating information on the location and timing of the meeting; information had been placed in every municipality covered by the project, as well as locations of public gathering spots, so that interested persons could be informed on planned public discussions. Meanwhile, it shall be highlighted that all the documentation related to the project are public and can be accessed at an official web-page of the Ministry. The respective information has also been provided to the relevant municipality. Therefore, each and every person who professes interest in the project could have accessed detailed studies throughout the assessment project, as well as nowadays. 


The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is highly sensitive toward adopting a decision on any action that can have a negative impact on an environment. The Ministry makes no compromise when it comes to fatal impact on the society, as well as realistic threats. The latter notion can be justified to the two decisions – the first one in Borjomi, where construction of a dam and spillway contradicted with the territorial peculiarities and could have possibly impacted mineral waters; the second one was in Gudamakari, where dams to be built on the Mtkvari river could change primary image of natural landscapes and result into loss of protected territory. 


The above-mentioned, outlines that harmonizing social, economic, environmental interests of the state and the society is vital. In any other scenario, questioning legitimacy of the Ministry-adopted permissions and protesting against the project crucial for the state – without groundless arguments can’t be justified. 
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