On June 17, 2026, the General Director and the management of JSC UEC SAKRUSENERGO visited the ongoing reconstruction works on the 500 kV “Kavkasioni” transmission line.
According to the 2024–2034 Ten-Year Development Plan of the Georgian Transmission lines, the project entitled “Svaneti” envisages the construction of small and medium-capacity hydropower plants in the region, together with the development of the corresponding electricity transmission infrastructure.
As part of this project, the construction of the 267 MW, 500/110/35 kV “Idliani” Substation is planned near the village Idliani in Mestia Municipality. The project includes the connection (loop-in) of the existing 500 kV “Kavkasioni” transmission line to the new substation. To implement the project, reconstruction of the section of the 500 kV transmission line between towers No. 92 and No. 94 is required. The reconstruction of the transmission line includes: dismantling towers No. 92 and No. 94 and relocating them to new locations; dismantling tower No. 93 and installing two new U2S2U-type angle towers (No. 93 and No. 93A) with a total of six legs on the right bank of the Enguri River.
Considering the complexity of the project—including the time required for implementation, challenging meteorological conditions, difficult terrain, the limited opportunity to de-energize the transmission line, and other technical factors—it was considered appropriate for JSC UEC SAKRUSENERGO to carry out the connection of the 500 kV “Kavkasioni” transmission line to the Idliani Substation using the company’s own personnel and material and technical resources.
Implementation of the project commenced on April 20, 2026, and the works have been progressing without taking the transmission line out of service. The 500 kV “Kavkasioni” transmission line will be de-energized for scheduled maintenance from June 22 through October 15, 2026. During this period, works envisaged under the company’s Business Plan and the Ten-Year Development Plan will be carried out. In particular: replacement of Tower No. 225, an angle-anchor tower located in the Kodori Gorge section, using a suspended rope installation method, will begin and be completed this year; installation of an optical ground wire from Tower No. 26 of the “Kavkasioni” transmission line to the Idliani Substation will commence this year and be completed in 2027; Besides, planned maintenance and operational works will be carried out on the sections of the “Kavkasioni” transmission line located in both Georgia and Russia.
As part of the project to connect the 500 kV “Kavkasioni” transmission line to the Idliani Substation, it became necessary to restore the cable-stayed bridge located near the village of Idliani, originally constructed during the Khudoni Hydropower Plant project. Restoration of the bridge was essential for transporting personnel, construction materials, equipment, and machinery to the work sites for the construction and installation of towers No. 93 and No. 93A on the right bank of the Enguri River.
At present the cable-stayed bridge has been fully restored; access roads to the locations of towers No. 93 and No. 93A have been completed; assembly construction platforms have been prepared; the foundations of Tower No. 93A have been completed; all three sections (legs) of Tower No. 93A have been erected; excavation and installation works for the foundations of Tower No. 93 are currently in progress; a logistics base has been established for storing construction materials, equipment, and machinery; and all required materials and equipment have been procured and delivered to the site.
Approximately 30 employees and 15 units of specialized machinery of the company have been mobilized for the project.
The works are coordinated by Andro Tskhadadze, Manager of the Western Georgia Transmission Line Operation and Construction Department of JSC UES SAKRUSENERGO.
