New Delhi, Oct 3 : Tata Power Thursday announced it has begun construction work for the first phase of its joint venture 400 MW hydro-power project in Georgia.

In a press release here, the company said the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the first phase of 185 MW of the Shuakhevi hydropower project was recently performed by Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The project would be jointly developed by Tata Power along with Clean Energy Invest AS, Norway (Clean Energy) and IFC InfraVentures (IFC).

The power generated by the plant is projected for sale primarily to Turkey, Tata Power said.

"We are committed to working with the Georgian government to make this (Shuakhevi project) as a nodal development in this amazing country of warm and committed people," Tata Power managing director Anil Sardana said. (IANS)