Renovated Enguri HPP in Georgia resumes power generation

The renovated Enguri hydro power plant (HPP), the largest electricity producer in Georgia, has started producing electricity today, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said.

All five generators of the Enguri HPP were shut down on January 20, 2021 for urgent repairs in the HPP’s drainage tunnel, which is used to allow the water from the reservoir to enter the turbines. Some sections of the tunnel were damaged and large volumes of water were leaking. In order to begin repairs on the tunnel, it was necessary to completely empty them first, which is why the HPP had to be shut down.

"As a result of the renovation of the HPP diversion tunnel, water losses will be reduced by 20-30%, which will generate an additional 90 million kWh of electricity per year," Agenda.ge cited Turnava as saying.

The total cost of the project was €45 million of which €7 million was a grant from the European Commission and the rest is a loan from the European Bank from Reconstruction and Development. 

According to Turnava, 'such large-scale, complex works have not been carried out for 15 years'.