DUSHANBE, March 18, 2010, Asia-Plus — Kazakh and Uzbek presidents point to the necessity of international examination of projects for construction of new hydropower facilities in the Central Asian region.
According to Kazakhstan’s news agency Kazinform, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev remarked this at a news conference in Tashkent yesterday after a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov.
“Today we confirmed mutual interest in speedy development of mutually acceptable mechanism of joint use of water-and-energy resources in the Central Asian region and intensification of activity of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS),” Nazarbayev said.
According to him, it is necessary to carry out international examination of potential impact of the Roghun HPP in Tajikistan and the Kambar-Ata facilities in Kyrgyzstan in terms of environmental and anthropogenic as well as water level regulation.
“Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that are downstream countries need such guarantees,” the Kazakh leader said.
Nazarbayev noted that before visiting Uzbekistan he had talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. “In principle, they are ready for such an examination,” Nazarbayev said, adding that he and Karimov agreed that if those projects prove their techno-economic and environmental sustainability they are ready to participate in construction of those facilities.
It is to be noted that official Tashkent has long opposed construction of the Roghun HPP in Tajikistan and repeatedly demanded an independent party examine the potential impact of the Roghun hydroelectricity project. In early February this year, Uzbek PM Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a letter to Tajik PM Oqil Oqilov warning of potential damage by the Roghun power plant to Central Asia”s frail environmental balance. Uzbek premier called on Tajik officials to conduct a thorough review of the Soviet-era project, designed some 40 years ago based on outdated technical expertise.
We will recall that the World Bank is ready to carry out both techno-economic and environmental and social studies for the Roghun HPP. Mr. Motu Konishi, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia told reporters in Dushanbe on March 10 after a meeting with President Rahmon that it will take three months to select a contractor to conduct the impact study, which could then take 18 months to complete. He noted that if the Roghun project proves its financial and environmental sustainability, the World Bank will provide the financial aid and support to the government of Tajikistan for the establishment of a consortium to complete the construction of the plant.
