Frequently Asked Questions

The National Environmental Agency requested additional information regarding the Somitso landslide. The company clarified that the landslide is located on the left bank of the Jejora river, while all structures of the "Sorgiti 2" HES are located on the right bank - so construction has no contact with the landslide. The Agency issued a positive environmental decision. GNSS/GPS, extensometer and tiltmeter monitoring systems will be installed during construction, under engineering-geological supervision.

24.94 ha is the combined area of both HES sites: "Sorgiti 1" - ~11.70 ha (near the villages of Iri and Kvedrula) and "Sorgiti 2" - ~13.24 ha (near Onchevi and Pipileti). The main structures of "Sorgiti 2", including the pressure pipeline and powerhouse, are not located within the immediate landslide area.

A total of 6,402 trees have been recorded, of which 16 are walnut trees (per taxation materials submitted to the Agency). Felled trees will be temporarily stored in the construction corridor, then transferred to the National Forestry Agency; the company will subsequently purchase them back and transfer them free of charge to the valley's residents.

The project corridor's final shape files have been submitted to the National Environmental Agency together with the EIA report and are available at ei.gov.ge. No private owners are recorded within the construction corridor.

The minimum share to be left in the riverbed is: for "Sorgiti 1" - no less than 25% of natural flow; for "Sorgiti 2" - no less than 28%. This is a minimum threshold, not a fixed volume - the actual amount varies seasonally. Near the village of Pipileti, within the "Sorgiti 2" area, six locations have been selected where traditional bathing spots and new camping areas will be restored/developed. An automatic hydrological gauging station is already installed on the Jejora, with periodic ADCP control measurements.

The scoping and EIA reports, including a non-technical (short) version, have been available on the National Environmental Agency's website ei.gov.ge since 17 November 2023. Public hearings were held: for the scoping report on 13 December 2023 (villages of Iri and Pipileti), and for the EIA report on 2 April 2024 (same villages). An information board is being prepared for placement in the administrative units in the near future.

The direct owner is "Regional Renewable Energy Company" - 90% held by "Racha Green Energy", 10% by Maka Sabanadze. The director and founder is David Ugrelidze.

Details on spoil (waste rock) placement are described in section 2.3.2.3.2 of the EIA report. After construction is complete, reclamation works will be carried out at the dump sites, including planting of native tree species, performed by the company under state supervision. The waste management plan is described in section 1.3 of the EIA report appendices.

The company will pay 1,600,000 GEL annually in property tax to the local budget. During construction, 100-150 local residents will be employed; after commissioning, 40-50 permanent positions will remain. Five villages will receive 20,000 GEL each in annual social funding (100,000 GEL/year total). Additional measures include: road rehabilitation, drinking-water and power-line upgrades, fiber-optic internet, valley-wide camera coverage, a vocational school (energy and animal husbandry), a school minibus, tourism infrastructure, and church/temple rehabilitation, among others.