Akhaltsikhe-Batumi 220 kV Transmission Line (ABTL)

Akhaltsikhe-Batumi 220kV Transmission Line (ABTL)

The project comprises the construction of a high voltage double-circuit 220kV transmission line from the Akhaltsikhe 500/400/220kV substation with the high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station (back-to-back configuration) for power exchange with Turkey, to Batumi 220kV substation, connecting also the new HPPs Shuakhevi (185MW together with Skhalta HPP) and Koromkheti (150MW) to the Georgian power system. The approx. 146 km long transmission line will be constructed in two phases; in first phase the connection of Shuakhevi HPP to Batumi substation with approx. 52 km length and in the second phase the segment from Shuakhevi HPP to Akhaltsikhe substation with a length of approx. 94 km. This new 220kV line will improve reliability and quality of supply to the southwest area supplied by Batumi Substation where an important Black Sea port and touristic resort is located, establishing redundancy by two connections, one to Akhaltsikhe substation and one to the north to Menji and Khorga substations. Moreover the export of energy to Turkey from the HPPs Shuakhevi/Skhalta and Koromkheti via the Akhaltsikhe HVDC converter station and later also via the planned HVDC converter station at Batumi will be made possible. After International Competitive Bidding the contract was awarded to KEC International Limited (India) on April 27, 2015. Construction activities have been started.

Akhaltsikhe-Batumi Project is financed in scope the World Bank’s Loan № 8377-GE in the frameworks of Power Grid Enhancement Project. The first phase of the project (Batumi-Shuakhevi 52 kilometer section) and the second phase (Shuakhevi-Akhaltsikhe section) about 2/3 were built by Indian company KEC International Limited, and the reamining part of the project approximately 39-kilometer 220kV section of Adigeni-Shuakhevi is being built by Turkish company Bozlar Yapi.

In order to support the Project, a Supervision Consultancy Contract (№ IDA/TGSP/CS/QBS/01-2013) was signed with the German company - GOPA-International Energy Consultants GmbH, on 9^th July 2015.

Project Details:

Phase I of the construction works within segment II of the Project has been completed.
Phase II of the construction works within segment I of the Project is in progress:

178 out of 280 access roads have been arranged.
Geological survey has been conducted on 210 out of 280 towers.
177 out of 280 tower foundations have been laid.
177 out of 280 towers have been assembled and installed.
The cable stretching process: from 94 km, works have already been completed on 57 km.

Project Dates:

Project start date: 25 July 2015.
Project is ongoing, estimated project completion date is the end of 2024.

Project Cost:

The first stage - Contract with KEC International Limited: 31.3 million USD and 1.09 million GEL
The second stage - Contract with Bozlar Yapi: 6.7 million USD.