Part I

Draft Black Sea Regional Transmission Project ESIA
The Ministry of Energy, the Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE), GSE’s state-owned power
company “Energotrans Ltd.”, and any contractors who are involved in project construction or
operation will comply with all Georgia labor laws.
3.1.5 Other relevant national strategies and plans
Other relevant strategies and plans include two related to environmental issues and one to
energy issues. Those related to environmental issues include:
Establishing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is an obligation
under the Convention on Biological Diversity (see section 3.2 below), which aims
to protect its biodiversity, to ensure its sustainable use and to enable fair access
to benefits of biodiversity. The Action Plan was adopted by the Cabinet of
Ministers in 2005 (resolution # 27, 19.02.05). The Plan puts forward a set of
national policies and plans which will be needed to meet Georgia’s
responsibilities under the CBD, as well as providing a framework through which to
coordinate priority conservation activities, and to share information on biodiversity
and key threats on the natural environment.
The new Georgian Red List was approved in May 2006 and is legally enforceable.
The new GRL has been organized in accordance with the guidelines and principles
of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The Black Sea Regional Transmission Project is part of the broader Energy Strategy of
Georgia (Ministry of Energy, 2009), whose key goals include:
Develop local generation sources to replace current imports.
Replace all current thermal generation with hydropower, with the ultimate goal of
having 100 percent of Georgia’s electricity generated with this renewable source.
Develop a reserve capacity of at least 10 percent.
Provide further deregulation.
Expand the high-voltage network. The Black Sea Energy Transmission Project
will contribute to this goal.
Increase exports of electricity. The Black Sea Energy Transmission Project will
help achieve this goal.
Rehabilitate energy infrastructure.
Participate in regional transmission and transit projects. The Black Sea Energy
Transmission Project is an important part of this goal.
3.2 International requirements
3.2.1 Requirements of International Finance Institutions
As noted above, the Government of Georgia, through the Ministry of Energy, is negotiating
financing of the Black Sea Regional Transmission Project with a number of international
finance institutions (IFIs). International lenders, including the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau Bankengruppe (KfW) all require that projects they finance be
in compliance with both national standards as well as environmental and social policies and
guidelines adopted by the lenders.
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