Sergei Melikov, the Head of Dagestan and Viktor Khmarin, the Chairman of the Management Board - Director General of RusHydro signed an agreement on the construction of Mogokhskaya hydroelectric power plant in the republic. The document was signed on December 22 in Moscow.

The new hydropower facility with a capacity of 49.8 MW is to be built on the Avar Koisu River. It is expected that the plant will generate an average of 176m kWh of renewable, environmentally friendly electricity per year. The project will be based on a dam-and-driver scheme.

Mogokhskaya HPP has already passed competitive selection of investment projects for construction of generating facilities operating on the basis of renewable energy sources with the conclusion of power supply contracts which ensures payback period of their construction. At present, the Lengidroproekt Institute is developing project documentation.

Under the agreement signed, RusHydro will also carry out the preparatory measures necessary for the creation of the reservoir of the new HPP. The regional government, for its part, will ensure the timely allocation of land and create a special commission for the acceptance of the reservoir bed. Besides, according to Melikov, Dagestan executive authorities will assist in conducting public hearings to assess the environmental impact of the construction and operation of the hydropower plant.

It should be noted that the project is being implemented by RusHydro within the framework of the small hydropower development programme across the North Caucasian Federal District, where there are the most favourable natural conditions for the operation of small hydropower plants.