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Ambassador Carl Hartzell visits EU Projects in Kakheti

On 11-12 October, Carl Hartzell, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia travelled to Kakheti to highlight the EU’s support to the region. He visited various sites in Kvareli, Telavi and Pankisi valley, and met with diverse groups of people. The visit focused on energy efficiency, support for businesses, and outreach to Georgia’s youth.

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As a first stop, Ambassador Hartzell visited Kvareli Lake Resort, which has been renovated and refurnished according to EU standards in energy efficiency, health and safety within the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line. The Resort spreads over 300 hectares of natural landscape in Kvareli. The support of the European Union and EBRD helped the company gain full compliance with Georgian regulation and with the applicable EU Directives.

The visit continued with EuroClub Kvareli, where Ambassador Hartzell opened the Club’s second anniversary event. EuroClub Kvareli was established within the EU’s Young European Ambassadors initiative in November 2019. Its main goal is to promote education and development among young people in Kvareli, and to provide access to non-formal education. Over the past two years, EuroClub Kvareli reached 1200 people through 100 activities, like film clubs, English lessons and other events.

On the same day, Ambassador Hartzell visited two other companies, which had received support through the EU4Business EBRD Credit Line. The winery and distillery Askaneli Brothers exports products internationally, including to EU countries like Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, and Poland, making full use of the DCFTA. Thanks to the EU’s and EBRD’s support, the company invested in state-of-the-art production facilities and equipment, improved food safety management, as well as energy efficiency, waste management and health safety, making both products and the workplace safer for people.

The first day concluded in the Holiday Inn in Telavi, which has been made more energy efficient through the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line. Besides a substantial loan, the company also received technical support from a team of international experts, helping the hotel upgrade its business practices as well as energy use.

In the morning of the second day, Ambassador Carl Hartzell visited Ikalto village in Telavi municipality and officially opened a local Kindergarten, which has been renovated and thermo-rehabilitated within an EU-funded project, implemented by Energy Efficiency Centre Georgia. Thanks to biomass energy technology created from vineyard waste products, the kindergarten will now be fully heated in winter, while also saving 60% of electricity costs. The opening event took take place within the EU’s ongoing campaign on energy efficiency “Doing More with Less”.

Ambassador Hartzell then visited the Learning and Employment Support Center in Telavi, observed entrepreneurial skills training and met with local youth. The Center is part of the EU’s Skills4Jobs programme and run by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) in partnership with the Young Pedagogues’ Union and Georgian Civil Development Association. Through the project, young people in Kakheti, Guria and Kvemo Kartli can increase their potential through formal and informal education. Up until now, 6 Learning and Employment Support Centres have been established in Georgia, including the one in Telavi. To date, over 1,000 job seekers have received support.

The visit continued in Pankisi valley, where the Ambassador opened a workshop for teachers on media literacy, organised and conducted by the Communications Commission with support from the European Union. Part of the audience were teachers from Pankisi, who had travelled to Brussels on a study trip a few years ago. The workshop is part of a longer training programme, designed to help teachers fight disinformation and teach students how to read and evaluate media.

Finally, Ambassador Hartzell met with the Women’s Council of Pankisi and the Local Action Group Akhmeta (LAG), which has been established within the EU’s ENPARD programme. The Women’s Council includes 15 local women of Pankisi Gorge and assists local women in resolving disputes, provides them with access to legal and social aid, and works on women’s rights. Over the past three years, the Akhmeta LAG has helped the Pankisi community through a variety of local development initiatives, including direct support to the Women’s Council.

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Media Materials

EU Ambassador opens energy efficient kindergarten in Ikalto, Kakheti

On 12 November 2021, the European Union and Telavi municipality officially opened the first energy efficient kindergarten in Kakheti, which has been renovated and thermo-rehabilitated with the EU’s support. With the help of biomass energy technology, the kindergarten is fully heated in winter, while also saving 60% of costs.

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The official opening took take place in the framework of the EU’s ongoing information campaign on energy efficiency “Doing More with Less” and the visit of the EU Ambassador to Kakheti.

“Energy efficiency is a key priority for the European Union in Georgia. For this kindergarten we employ innovative technologies, using waste from vineyards, which is a cheap and good source of heating. Through this method we can create a better and healthier environment for children, while using less energy and less financial resources. The EU remains committed to supporting legislative reform in energy efficiency and developing innovative solutions like the one used here in Ikalto”, stated Ambassador Hartzell at the opening ceremony.

Within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors program, the complete modernization of the kindergarten in Ikalto village by using energy efficient technologies is a significant achievement for our municipality. The ongoing rehabilitation works in Telavi kindergarten #1 are also noteworthy, as the same agricultural waste will be used for heating of the kindergarten. I am grateful to the EU Delegation to Georgia and all partners for the effective implementation of this important project,” said Telavi Mayor Shota Nareklishvili.

Until two years ago, Ikalto Kindergarten in Telavi Municipality used to have wood heating that could heat up only 40% of their building in winter. The situation changed after the building alongside other facilities was rehabilitated through the EU-funded project “Biomass Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies as Sustainable Energy Solutions for Covenant of Mayors Signatories”, implemented by Energy Efficiency Center Georgia in partnership with Telavi Municipality.

“This project, which we implemented with the financial support of the European Union, highlights the mission that municipalities can accomplish to contribute to the fulfilment of the country’s undertaken international climate commitments, and demonstrates the potential of energy efficiency and local biomass in enhancing the country’s energy independence”, stated Giorgi Abulashvili, Director of the Energy Efficiency Center – Georgia.

With the support of the European Union, Ikalto Kindergarten is now fully heated using renewable energy produced from vineyard pruning residues, abundantly available in Kakheti. The use of biomass for heating reduces greenhouse gas emission and cuts costs. The rehabilitation works also included thermal insulation of the building, instalment of solar water-heating system, a grid-connected solar micro power plant, energy efficient windows and replacement of existing lighting with LED lights. Overall, energy costs will decrease by 60%. The EU also gave the municipality two tractors and special equipment for collecting and processing vineyard pruning residues to be used for biomass-operated heaters, thus helping to create a renewable energy supply chain.

The official opening ceremony in Ikalto was attended by the kindergarten administration, project implementing partners, representatives of Telavi Municipality and Governor’s office.

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Media Materials

EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell opens Energy Efficient kindergarten in Ikalto, Kakheti

On 12 November, Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia will visit Ikalto village in Telavi Municipality, Kakheti to officially open a local kindergarten, which was fully renovated and thermo-rehabilitated with EU support. The official opening will take place in the framework of the EU’s ongoing Energy Efficiency information campaign and within the EU Ambassador’s visit to Kakheti region.

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A Press Point will be organized at the yard of Ikalto kindergarten at 10:00. Press will be expected from 09:45.

Address: Ikalto Village, Telavi Municipality.

Official opening ceremony will be attended by the kindergarten administration, project implementing partners, representatives of Telavi Municipality and Governor’s office.

The rehabilitation and thermo-modernization of the Ikalto Kindergarten is supported by the EU’s Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Initiative project “Biomass Energy and EE Technologies as a Sustainable Energy Solution for the kindergartens” implemented by Energy Efficiency Center Georgia in partnership with the Telavi Municipality. As a result of the project, the building will be fully heated, 60% of costs will be saved on energy, air quality will be improved and gas emissions reduced.

Information about the Ikalto Kindergarten opening and the Ambassador’s visit to Kakheti will be uploaded on EU4Georgia website. Please follow us at https://eu4georgia.ge/mediacorner/

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EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell Visits EU Projects in Kakheti

On 11-12 November, Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia will travel to Kakheti to highlight EU support to the region. Ambassador Hartzell will visit various sites in Kvareli, Telavi and Pankisi and meet beneficiaries of EU-funded projects. The topics of the visits concern energy efficiency, business and entrepreneurship support, economic and rural development, and more.

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On 11 November, 12:30, Media Statement will be made in Kvareli. The Press Point will take place in EuroClub Kvareli, where Ambassador Hartzell will attend the Club’s second anniversary event.

Address: 49 Ilia Chavchavadze Street, Kvareli

On the same day, Ambassador Hartzell will visit several energy efficient projects supported by EU and EBRD under EU4Business initiative:

  • Kvareli Lake Resort, renovated and refurnished following energy efficiency, health and safety standards;
  • Askaneli Brothers winery, supported for improved food safety management, energy efficiency, waste management and health safety;
  • Holiday Inn hotel in Telavi, refurbished and equipped with energy efficiency systems, as well as health and safety standards.

On 12 November, Ambassador Hartzell will

  • officially open Ikalto Kindergarten, fully renovated and thermo-rehabilitated under EU’s Covenant of Mayors Demonstration Project;
  • visit Learning and Employment Support Center supported under EU’s Skills4Jobs programme;
  • open a media literacy workshop with Pankisi teachers;
  • meet with Women’s Council in Pankisi together with Akhmeta Local Action Group (LAG) members.

The information about the visit will be continuously uploaded on EU4Georgia website. Please follow us at https://eu4georgia.ge/mediacorner/

For more information please contact: