Georgia: Power Grid Enhancement Project - Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or the Bank) and the KfW Entwicklungsbank (the KfW; collectively the Lenders) are considering providing finance to the Georgian State Electrosystem JSC (GSE or the Client) to finance the strengthening of Georgia Transmission System, including the following 3 components:
a) 500 kV OHL Tskaltubo – Akhaltsikhe - Tortum;
b) Reinforcement of Transmission Infrastructure in Guria; and
c) the North Ring-Tskaltubo including related substations divided in three sub-projects; C1, C2 and C3 (collectively, the Project).
As the Project involves the construction of high voltage overhead transmission lines (220kV or more and more than 15km long), the EBRD has assigned it a Category A. Consequently a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) meeting the Lenders’ policies and requirements and review of associated documents must be carried out, followed by their public disclosure for a minimum period of 120 days.