What is the responsibility of energy companies for the communities where they develop energy projects and generate electricity? To what extent do energy sector investors of high corporate responsibility improve the living conditions of the locals and long-term development of the region where they operate?
Today, I want to share with you one of the successful examples. The energy company has implemented hundreds of social projects, and what is also very important, it continues to implement social projects during the operational stage.
The company Adjaristsqal Georgia LLC, owner of the Shuakhevi HPP cascade with a capacity of 187 MW, was the first company in the Georgian energy sector to set a high standard of corporate responsibility. To be more specific, the company studied the needs of the region even before the construction of the Shuakhevi HPP, and based on the results developed a long-term corporate responsibility strategy with the three main directions defined: support for education and raising awareness, support for local communities - financing of small businesses (SMEs), and infrastructure development.
From the very beginning of the Shuakhevi HPP cascade, including the operational stage, hundreds of social projects have been implemented. The most significant aspect of these projects is their focus on long-term goals. Secondly, all projects were planned and fulfilled directly with the active involvement of the local population and municipalities.
Over 170 social projects have been implemented
benefiting more than 10,000 individuals
Financed 70 SMEs
The total expenditure on social projects stands for approximately 9 million GEL, divided as follows:
Education and awareness-raising: 1 200 000 GEL
Support for local communities: 4 550 000 GEL
Infrastructure improvement: 3 000 000 GEL
The results of hundreds of social projects that we have been following for years are truly impressive. Today, I wish to highlight a particularly significant educational project with outstanding results. This initiative came to our attention last year.
For several years, AGL has sponsored a preparation center for the national exams,
exclusively for local students. School graduates from Khulo are given the opportunity to prepare in five subjects: Georgian, Mathematics, English, History, and biology, all fully funded by the company.
In 2023, every single student at the education center, without exception, successfully
passed the national exams. Notably, one of them, Keti Shavadze, achieved a perfect
score of 70 out of 70 points in English. These students will now be enrolled in leading universities across Georgia. This remarkable achievement underscores how a business with a strong commitment to corporate responsibility, doubled by a well-defined action strategy and priorities, can directly impact the lives of individuals in the short term and contribute to the long-term development of the country.
In the current year, AGL continues to finance the preparation center for local students. Our team will soon visit Khulo to share more about the company's educational initiatives.
This educational project is just one of many initiatives associated with AGL and the
Shuakhevi Hydro Power Cascade. The company's team maintains constant interaction with the local population, and social projects tailored to the needs of those living in the Shuakhevi HPP area are planned and implemented through collaborative efforts.
