The Effect of Namakhvani HPP on Rioni Cascade HPPs

The Namakhvani HPP project is the largest station of the “Rioni Hydroelectric Power Plant Cascade”, located in the river section between the Oni I Dam Project (1125 m.a.s.l) and the Vartsikhe IV HPP (23 m.a.s.l). There are currently four operating hydropower stations in the lower part of the Rioni River: Gumath HPP 1, Gumath HPP 2, and the Rioni and Vartsikhe HPP Cascade (4 HPPs). The Namakhvani Dam is located upstream of the existing HPPs in the Rioni Cascade and, due to its location, the Namakhvani project can have a significant impact on the generation and spill water managment of the existing HPPs in the Rioni Cascade, as these HPPs are run-of-river plants and do not have any ability of regulating water flow. It can also bring great economic benefits to both the region and the country as a whole.