DUSHANBE, October 2, 2013, Asia-Plus — The next fourth consultation and information-sharing session for civil society on the assessment studies of the proposed Roghun Hydropower Project (HPP) in Tajikistan will take place in Dushanbe from October 17-18 this year.
According to the World Bank Dushanbe Office, the consultation and information-sharing session will be transmitted by video- or telephone connections from World Bank Country Offices in Central Asia’s countries as well as in Afghanistan and France.
As part of the ongoing Roghun Assessment Studies, the World Bank yesterday disclosed summaries of two reports: 1) the Geological and Geotechnical Investigation of the Salt Wedge in the Dam Foundation and Reservoir; and 2) an Assessment of the Existing Roghun Hydropower Project Works.
The first report examines the potential impact on dam safety of the wedge of salt that exists along the Ionakhsh Fault and serves as a critical decision point in the overall Roghun Assessment Study process.
The second report evaluates the conditions of the existing facilities, including tunnels and caverns, and makes recommendations for bringing the facilities to the required standards of safety and quality).
These two summaries, which represent two phases of the ongoing Techno-Economic Assessment Study (TEAS) and will be followed by subsequent technical phases and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, will be the subject of consultations and information-sharing sessions on October 17 and 18.
The upcoming fourth information-sharing meeting in October will cover summaries of reports that examine aspects of dam safety. These summaries were submitted by Coyne et Bellier and have been reviewed by the independent Panel of Experts, but will not be considered final until after riparian counterparts and civil society stakeholders have provided comments and feedback through the consultation period. Consultations will be held among the governments and civil society groups of the riparian countries.
We will recall that the third consultation and information-sharing session on the assessment studies of the Roghun HPP was held on February 12, 2013 at the World Bank’s Central Asia Regional Office in Kazakhstan and by video- or telephone connections from World Bank Country Offices in Ashgabat, Astana, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Kabul, and Tashkent. This consultation and information-sharing meeting addressed various aspects of dam safety and water management. The alternative project designs were also described.
In particular, the third consultations and information-sharing session reviewed and discussed the draft hydrology report produced by a Coyne & Bellier led consulting consortium and the draft geological investigations in the right bank, also produced by Coyne and Bellier.
In addition to these two documents, the meeting on February 12 presented updates of findings covering the following topics: Vakhsh Cascade simulation – methodology and assumptions; geology assessment; seismic hazard assessment; site layouts for different dam heights; and cost comparison on resettlement and infrastructure options.
