DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-plus – On May 23, a grant agreement for US$2 million was signed in Dushanbe between Tajikistan, represented by Abdullo Yorov, Minister of Energy, and Safarali Najmuddinov, Minister of Finance, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), represented by Neeraj Jain, the ABD Country Director in Tajikistan. Mr. Ono, Second Secretary of
Japan
to
Tajikistan
, was also present during the signing ceremony. This grant of US$2 million is provided from
Japan
’s Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR). The project highlights the Government of Japan’s significant contribution to ADB’s goal of reducing poverty in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to information from the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission, the grant is allocated for financing a project in the energy sector – improvement of electricity supply services for
Tajikistan
’s rural residents.
The project aims to establish a community-based “run-of-river” micro-hydropower system to supply electricity to about 2,400 households in poor communities in remote rural areas along ADB-funded road project areas in
Tajikistan
. “Run-of-rive” hydropower system is based on local resources and has minimal environmental impacts as it does not require a water reservoir, and hydropower has no air emissions.
The beneficiary communities will be chosen based on their level of poverty as well as their commitment and involvement in the project. A community-based organization in each project site will be incorporated and, with adequate training and support, will be tasked with operating the micro-hydropower plants and distributing electricity to households.
The Tajik Government and the beneficiary communities will contribute US$398,970 equivalent toward the project’s total estimated cost of US$2,398,970.
Following the signing ceremony, Tajik Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov told journalists that the project would cover areas along the highway Vahdat-Nurobod-Jirgatol-Saitash. He noted that all necessary efforts would be taken to provide efficient, rational and targeted use of the provided funds.
For his part, Tajik Energy Minister Abdullo Yorov added that the funds of the JFPR would go to constructing six hydropower plants on small rivers. A total capacity of these plants will be 2 megawatt, according to the minister.
