Khudoni HPP has returned to Georgia’s energy discussion as the country looks for ways to increase domestic electricity generation.
Maia Melikidze, Executive Director of the Georgian Renewable Energy Development Association, said Khudoni appears more realistic than the stalled Nenskra and Namakhvani projects.
Speaking to BMG, she linked the renewed discussion to higher electricity imports in 2025. Georgia remained dependent on cross-border supply during periods when domestic generation could not meet demand.
Why Khudoni is back in discussion
The proposed Khudoni plant has a planned capacity of 702 MW. If completed, it would become one of Georgia’s largest power stations.
Melikidze said the project could help reduce seasonal import needs. She also estimated that construction could take three to five years if the project restarts with updated technology.
That estimate is not an approved construction schedule. The government has not announced a final investment decision, a selected investor or a confirmed start date.
The project has remained unresolved for decades. Previous development arrangements ended without construction, and the state later regained control of the project rights.
Community engagement remains central
Khudoni also raises important social and environmental questions. Local communities in Svaneti have long expressed concerns about land, resettlement and the project’s effect on the area.
Melikidze said any new development model must protect local interests. She also called for clearer rules on community participation and benefit sharing around major energy projects.
This balance will be essential. Georgia needs more reliable domestic generation, but large infrastructure projects also require credible consultation and transparent agreements with affected residents.
For now, Khudoni remains a project under discussion rather than a project under construction. Its next steps will depend on technical review, financing, government decisions and engagement with local communities.
The debate is likely to continue because Khudoni combines two important policy questions. Georgia wants more domestic generation, while the project area requires careful social and environmental consideration. Any renewed proposal will need to address both.
The article is based on comments by Maia Melikidze, Executive Director of GREDA, published by BM.ge.