History

Project Description and Current Status

“The Project comprises the development, construction, owning, and operation on a built, own and operate (“BOO”) model of the Kheledula 3 HEPP, a run of-river scheme involving two tributaries of the Tskhenistskali river in the Lentekhi District of western Georgia’s Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region. The Tskhenistskali River is a tributary of the Rioni river, the largest river in western Georgia. The Kheledula 3 HEPP will be the lowest plant of the Kheledula HEPPs cascade, and will comprise a two-stage scheme utilising water taken from the lower courses of the Kheledula and Devashi rivers, both of which are right tributaries of the Tskhenistskali river. On the Kheledula river, a new weir, located approximately 6 km upstream of the confluence with the Tskhenistskali river at the town of Lentekhi, will allow water to be diverted and conveyed via a new, 3.8 km unpressurized conveyance tunnel to the Devashi river valley where it will combine with water taken from the Devashi river via another new weir located approximately 3 km upstream of the Devashi’s confluence with the Tskhenistskali river. Approximately 80% of the total combined design flow will be from the Kheledula river. The combined flow will then be directed via a 2.4 km penstock buried underground and 454 meter penstock inside a headrace tunnel to three horizontal Francis turbine-generators, each with a total generating capacity of 17 MW, installed in an aboveground powerhouse which will be located on the right bank of the Tskhenistskali river, approximately 1.5 km downstream of the proposed Lentekhi HEPP project’s powerhouse. The Project will be initially connected to the national grid of Georgia via a new, dedicated transmission line to be constructed by the JSC “Georgian State Electrosystem” , the transmission licensee. This new 220 kV double-circuit overhead line will follow the Tskhenistskali valley, and will connect the future extension substation of Lajanuri to the Kheledula HPP.”