Grand Opening of Lopota SHP
On April 7, 2009, USAID Head of Energy and Environment office John Hansen together with the Minister of Energy of Georgia participated in the opening of the Lopota Small Hydropower Plant (SHP) in the village of Napareuli, Kakheti region. The opening was conducted by USAID’s Rural Energy Program in cooperation with the SHP owner. Construction of Lopota SHP started in 2003 and has completed in March 2009. The original purpose of the hydro power plant was to supply power to the surrounding villages, as well as support agricultural activities in the district. Now, with most of Georgia being part of a national grid, ESCO - the Electricity System Commercial Operator and potentially some local industries as direct customers will purchase the plant’s output. With technical and financial assistance from the Rural Energy Program, the facility expanded its generation capacity from zero to 2,000kW producing 12,823 million kWhs per year. The rehabilitation project will generate approximately USD 1.5 million in electricity revenues over the next five years.
