DUSHANBE, August 17, 2011, Asia-Plus – Among other findings and discussions, the international consultants undertaking the Techno-Economic Assessment Study concluded that starting immediate construction of an initial stage of the proposed Rogun HPP with an intermediate height dam of 120 meters (up to El. 1110 m) is not recommended, primarily due to the heavy sediment load carried by the Vakhsh River. The Panels of Experts and the Bank Team concurred with this assessment and recommended to move forward expeditiously with the comprehensive technical, economic, environmental and social assessment of the full-height dam. In this regard, the good progress of the on-going assessment studies provides a solid basis for comprehensive assessment of the full height dam, which could take from 6 to 8 months to complete, the World Bank said in its press release.
A World Bank Team of experts has completed its 10-day visit to Tajikistan to review the progress of the Assessment Studies for the proposed Rogun Project. The team was accompanied by the two independent Panels of Experts – the Engineering and Dam Safety Panel and the Environment and Social Panel, whose role is to ensure that international standards of design, risk evaluation and impact assessment are met.
The Bank Team has concluded that the Assessment Studies, which started in March 2011, are making notable progress. In a period of about five months, the international consultants have collected and analyzed a large amount of available data and studies, and have produced several initial assessments and reports, the release says.
The assessments have provided inputs relating to the initial environmental and social screening, design criteria, technical specifications for additional geotechnical investigations, methodologies for evaluating the operation of the Vakhsh cascade, and an assessment of an intermediate height dam as a stand-alone project. Initial estimates of high floods were found to be generally in line with current estimates, and critical site investigations could be completed earlier than previously expected. The initial assessments also identified aspects that require further review and analysis.
The work on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment has, in general, progressed well and disclosure of the full assessment is expected during the first half of 2012 for further discussion and consultation.
The Bank Team acknowledged the Government’s commitment and efforts in relation to resettlement, noted several elements of good practice in this work, and looks forward to continued progress to meet international standards.
This visit was part of the process to carry out the two Assessment Studies for the proposed Rogun HPP – the Techno-Economic Assessment Study and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
