DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus — Speaking to journalists at a news conference in Dushanbe, Deputy Energy and Industries Minister, Poulod Muhididnov, said, “We have proved that construction of hydropower plants on the Zarafshon River in northern Tajikistan will create no problems to Uzbekistan and will not affect its land reclamation system.”
According to him, Tajik and Uzbek specialists have come to an agreement on enlisting the services of international experts to survey places for future hydropower facilities.
Before that, Uzbek authorities had expressed displeasure with Tajikistan’s plans to construct a series of hydroelectric power plants on the Zarafshon River and been trying to prevent Tajikistan from constructing them in every possible way, while now, “after a number of meetings at ministerial level, the Uzbek side has shown understanding,” the deputy minister said.
In the meantime, an article entitled “Construction of Hydropower Plants and the Aral [Sea] Problem”, published in the Uzbek state-run news paper
Pravda Vostoka
(January 24), expresses concern about construction of hydropower plants in Tajikistan and possible problems of water supply.
Local experts say Tajikistan’s efforts to develop its hydro-power sector are causing a spike in tension with neighboring Uzbekistan. According to them, Uzbek officials are concerned over Tajikistan’s plans to construct coordinated hydroelectric system on the Zarafshon River, and therefore, initiate media campaign, complaining that the hydroelectric facilities on the Zarafshon River can affect land reclamation system in several regions of Uzbekistan.
We will recall that China”s Sinohydro Corporation has been granted a contract to build the Zarafshon, or Yovon, plant, which should produce some 600 million kWh of electricity a year. The relevant contract was signed on January 17, 2007 in Beijing, on the sidelines of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon”s visit to the Chinese capital. The project will reportedly be funded through a $200 million, low-interest Chinese loan.
Tajikistan is regularly hit by electricity shortages during the winter months, and is pursuing greater self-sufficiency in the energy sector. According to specialists, the Zarafshon hydropower plant could fully meet requirements of Sughd’s Panjakent district in electrical power.
