Strategic Environmental Assessment of Aragvi River Basin

Abstract

Integrated Watershed Management System will be gradually introduced in Georgia, according to the EU Association Agreement signed on 27 June, 2014 in Brussels. Integrated Watershed Management System will be based on European principles of river basin management. This paper includes a survey of the Aragvi river basin and deals with the possible environmental, cultural and socio-economic impacts, which might be observed in the basin due to development of small and medium hydro power plants. EU Association Agreement also obliges countries to implement Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for relevant projects and fields. The given paper represents summary of the first in Georgia Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Aragvi river basin, which aims at supporting governmental policymakers, planners and private investors in the energy sector and other related sectors to make better-informed decisions in order to ensure that national sustainable development policies are addressed in strategic sectoral decision making. The sudy is closely linked to the regional and energy development plans for promotion of renewable energy in Georgia. As set out in the SEA Directive, it will ‘contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development’. To achieve this overall aim the study has the following key objectives: To provide the environmental dimension to these plans and thus to contribute to the overall decision making process, which will shape the development of the region as such and more specifically the development of hydroelectric facilities within the region To provide a basis for the subsequent development and appraisal of specific investment projects in the hydroelectric sector in the region; To provide a forum for stakeholders, particularly local residents affected by any hydroelectric development, to participate in the development process To provide potential future investors with information for the most appropriate location and type of hydroelectric facilities and any limitations and conditions which should be met and may be part of the permitting process To provide the authorities with assistance in the appraisal of project proposals put forward by developers The SEA on Aragvi River Basin was commissioned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and carried out by a Consortium consisting of Poyry Energy GmbH (Consortium Leader), Hydrophil Consulting & Knowledge Development GmbH, and ECOVISION – The Union of Sustainable Development.