Statement by Merab Gongadze, Senior Scientist at the TSU Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Department of Geomorphology

"The pattern [seen in the video] below is very similar to the Rioni gorge with Namakhvani. There is limestone on both sides. The Rioni-Tskhenistskali watershed is only about 20 km wide, and in a straight line 15-17 km from Namakhvani, the limestone-karst massif of Tskaltubo extends across the watershed to the famous caves of Kumistavi (Prometheus), Kvilishori, Satsurblia, Bgheri, and so on. It is possible that leaking water from the reservoir will rapidly create passageways to these karst caves (if these canals do already not exist), in which case it will be almost impossible to keep the required amount of water in the reservoir. It should also be noted that the huge mass of water created by the 100 m dam will immeasurably increase the pressures on the walls of the reservoir and its outflow into the cracks will rapidly increase.

Because of this project, we were interviewed several times in 2010 at the Institute of Geography, in particular in the Department of Geomorphology, where a karsto-speleological laboratory operates. Representatives of the project organization were very interested in our conclusion about the cracking of the limestone walls of the future reservoir. They were obviously demanding a positive conclusion from us that there would be no catastrophic leakage of water from the reservoir. We developed a project that included several months of field research by staff from the Institute of Geomorphologists, karstologists, and the Institute of Geophysics in the Tvishi-Namakhvani section of the Rioni Valley. They asked us several times to conduct this project, but afterwards would vanish without a trace.

Finally, Kukuri Tsikarishvili and I were summoned to the State Oil and Gas Corporation (we still do not understand what they had to do with this project) and we were asked in detail what we thought about the HPP project. Of course, we stated that thorough field research is necessary and a conclusion should only be made after that. However, we also did not hide the fact that after analyzing the available data during the preliminary research work, the conclusion was likely to be negative [showing the project to be geologically infeasible]. After that, no one called us at all.

Later, we found out from other sources that they brought Italian specialists and together with the local specialists created a 600-page report, which provided general geographical information about this section of the valley, an individual hydrological data of this section of the Rioni Valley, biodiversity of the area (flora, ichthyofauna, etc.) How much did this account cost, I just do not want to mention this figure here, since I am not certain about its reality. I do not know exactly, but it is possible that on the basis of this report the authors of the Namakhavani project intend to prove its suitability, although as far as sharing it, they have not shown it to anyone.

Besides the issue to the water leaks, the slopes of the Rioni Valley in this area are covered with deluvial deposits, which are more conducive to landslide movements in the Rioni Valley than the thin layer of clay found later in Italy. The fact is that these deluvial deposits in the upper part of the limestone slopes are to this day active in the processes of depletion and denudation (spatial washing). Exhausted rocks are exposed to gravity and surface water in the middle and lower parts of the slope, gradually thickening and over time becoming covered with soil and vegetation. The eye of a non-specialist can not distinguish them from the limestone slope. The river gradually washes away the base of these deluvial deposits and removes their support. Eventually, the movement of this mass begins towards the river bed, and a landslide develops.

Now imagine a rising water level after the creation of the dam, which begins the process of the washing of the slopes and, consequently, the development of landslides. Our late colleague, Karlo Liponava, worked on the coastal processes of Georgian reservoirs in the 70s and 80s of the last century, and I also conducted field research with him in this direction, as I worked on human impact on topographical relief and particularly on the development of modern exodynamic processes. Thus, I am aware of the mechanism of possible development of these coastal processes.

It should also be noted that the characteristics of the movements and levels of underground water should be taken into account, as their outputs are likely to be covered after the water level rises. This poses another separate hydrogeological problem in the reservoir area, with more or less predictable consequences. Not to mention the active seismicity of the region, the changing microclimate and biodiversity changes in the valley, starting with ichthyofauna, ending with unique vine and fruit varieties.

Finally, I would like to address those who, without any reason, advocate the construction of such large hydropower plants in any populated area. I advise them to go to Pankisi gorge, at the head of the Alazani, to visit the 25-megawatt Khadorhesi, designed by the Chinese and built by the Georgians on the principle of the traditional Georgian mill, without the dam and reservoir. Similar stations can be built there, on the left tributaries of the Alazani, which have the necessary slope, as well as on many rivers on the southern slope of the Caucasus and the northern slope of Adjara-Trialeti. However, in my deepest belief, the purpose of the project authors revolves purely around the goal of making big money and evicting the local population. We need to wake up everyone and take active action against these parasites!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtGsHfZ1tS8