DUSHANBE February 27, 2013, Asia-Plus — The process of filling the Roghun dam with water will take 14 years and this process will not affect neighboring countries, Tajik Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources, Rahmat Bobokalonov, told UN Radio in an interview.
The minister noted that Tajikistan will fill the reservoir at the expense of its quotas and resources during a certain estimated time that has been set by projectors for filling the Roghun dam with water.
Earlier, Bobokalonov noted that Tajikistan would continue conducting the policy of harmonious development of cooperation with Central Asia’s countries in the field of water resources. Speaking at a meeting at the United Nations in New York, Tajik minister of land reclamation and water resources noted on February 22 that Tajikistan will present an analysis of Central Asian water supply and use at the August UN conference in its capital Dushanbe.
We will recall that the government of Tajikistan and the World Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2010 to achieve sustainable development of Tajikistan”s energy resources, secure supply of energy services to the people of Tajikistan and promote balanced economic growth. Under this document, the techno-economic, the environmental and social impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project have been conducted.
The World Bank has reached an understanding with the Government of Tajikistan that no new construction would commence until after the techno-economic and environmental/social studies have been shared and discussed with riparians, and the studies are reviewed by the independent Bank-funded Panel of Experts to determine feasibility.
Dushanbe”s only hope is Roghun, which Tajikistan hopes will make the country a major electricity exporter and puts an end to its energy reliance on neighbors.
Tashkent, however, has asked Russia and the United Nations to pressure Dushanbe to stop the project. Uzbek President Islam Karimov told farmers in Karakalpakstan autonomous republic in October 2010 that if Tajikistan goes on to complete Roghun as planned, it would leave Uzbekistan facing water shortages for eight years until Roghun dam filled with water.
