DUSHANBE, April 24, 2009, Asia-Plus — World Bank President Robert Zoellick sent a letter to Uzbek President Islam Karimov, in which he expresses World Bank’s position on construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station in Tajikistan.
The letter (Russian translation) posted on Uzbek president’s website (
www.president.uz
), in particular, notes that the World Bank recognizes that the sector of water and energy is critically important for the economies and livelihoods of the people throughout Central Asia and long-term stability in the region and prospects for future economic growth in all the countries of Central Asia largely depend on the successful regional cooperation and consideration of all national strategic interests.
The letter says that in response to requests from the Central Asian governments, including the government of Uzbekistan, the World Bank Group is actively engaged in the dialogue on water/energy issues with the five countries of Central Asia. In its work the World Bank Group acts in the best interests of all its member countries, and takes utmost care in the application of its policies and procedures.
With regards to Roghun hydroelectricity project (HEP), proposed by the government of Tajikistan, the World Bank chief clarifies that the Bank has only committed to provide financing to the Government of Tajikistan to carry out studies to assess the possibility of the project, with particular emphasis on its potential regional impacts. The studies will determine technical, economic and financial reasonability of the proposed project, as well as its potential environmental and social consequences in accordance with international agreements on use of trans-border water resources.
Mr. Zoellick also noted that he fully shared President Karimov’s worry about the fragile ecological balance in the region and about the need to make sure that the realization of the hydroelectric potential would not lead to a reduction of water flow for countries located in the lower reaches of trans-border rivers. The World Bank chief promised that that argument would be thoroughly studied as integral part of technical studies and outcomes of the studies would be submitted to all interested countries and would be discussed for achievement of general understanding in adopting appropriate approach to construction of such facilities.
The studies will be conducted by internationally recognized firms that will be hired under World Bank procurement guidelines and the Bank will establish an International Panel of Experts who will provide independent opinion on the outputs of the studies. To ensure transparency and of all shareholders’ concerns, the World Bank will continue conducting consultations with all interested countries in 2009-2010, as the results of the studies become available and are considered by independent experts and interested countries.
Mr. Zoellick noted that if all involved sides agree that issues they worry about are removed and they agree with reasonability and benefits of investments in such projects as the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) he would be glad for opportunity of Uzbekistan’s interest in participation in such investments.
We will recall that Tajik Deputy Prime Minister, Murodali Alimardon, said in an interview with Asia-Plus last week that Tajikistan agrees to holding of independent international examination of the Roghun HEP. According to the Ministry of Energy and Industries, Tajikistan will provide 150 million US dollars this year for construction of the Roghun HPS.
