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

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A New Regional Office of the National Environmental Agency opens in Batumi.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, accompanied by the Head of the Government of Adjara, Mr. Tornike Rizhvadze, got familiar with the ongoing works at the new regional office of the National Environmental Agency in Batumi, Adjara.

A new building comprises the most important structural units of the Agency, such as the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Water Biodiversity, Batumi Lab of the Environmental Pollution Monitoring Department, and the Adjara Regional Hydrometeorological Observatory.

The ambient air, water, and soil analysis, microbiological, hydrobiological, and ichthyological laboratories meet international standards and are equipped with cutting-edge devices and research infrastructure.
According to the Minister, strengthening institutional capacities in the environmental field is the priority direction of the country, which is also reflected in the fulfilment of environmental commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

"We completed constructing the National Environmental Agency's regional office in Batumi, which will comprise a laboratory with cutting-edge technology for soil, air, and water quality monitoring studies. We regularly monitor the water quality of the Black Sea, especially during the tourist season. Due to monitoring, the water quality of the Black Sea complies with the established norms. One of the Ministry's priorities is strengthening the capacities of the National Environmental Agency, and we are working on it. Notably, the works on establishing a similar office and laboratory have started in the city of Kutaisi", - noted the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia.

Mr.Tornike Rizhvadze, the Head of the Adjara Government, congratulated the employees of the National Environmental Agency on the opening of the new office, emphasizing the importance of the research carried out in the laboratory for the local population as well as tourists arriving in the region.

According to the Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament, Mrs. Maia Bitadze, constructing the office with state investments is crucial, and the environmental and technological capacities offered by the new office serve as the prerequisites for attracting new personnel and the successful implementation of the recently established paid internship program.

The new Batumi laboratory will allow researchers to expand their research components and offer new methods using cutting-edge technology. The number of monitoring stations will increase, enabling the researchers to conduct studies with the latest methods in line with the EU water and navy strategy frame directives. It is also planned to extend the scientific research capacities in the fishing and aquaculture fields in the navy area and the domestic ponds.

Notably, Batumi Laboratory, till now, could offer restricted services limited to the short chemical analysis, and the samples for the full analysis were sent to Tbilisi Air, Water and Soil Laboratory.