DUSHANBE, October 24, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajik expert, Professor Georgiy Koshlakov, says we ought to wait for the final results of the assessment studies for the Roghun hydroelectricity project.
“With their last assessments of the Roghun project, the World Bank experts have given to understand that they do not see any serious obstacles for completion of construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP),” Koshlakov told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“There are just recommendations to complete facilities that have already been constructed there,” the expert said.
Professor Koshlakov, however, stressed that the assessment studies for the Roghun project has not yet been completed. “There are things that require study,” he said.
“There are two very serious issues that require explanations and international experts are engaged in studying these issues,” Koshlakov added.
Tajik MP Shodi Shabdolov, who is a power engineer by specialty, says that Tajikistan does not need assessments of the World Bank experts, “because this financial institution has given to understand that it will provide financial support for construction of the Roghun power plant.”
“The World Bank has led us up the garden path for too long. As power engineer, I can say that technical assessment study for such facilities does not take so many time. I think it is a market game but not assessment study,” Shabdolov added.
We will recall that at the request of the Central Asian governments, the World Bank is working to ensure that the two ongoing Assessment Studies — the Techno-Economic Assessment Study (TEAS) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) — are objective, meet international technical standards, and are informed by a consultative process among riparian governments and civil society groups. To this end, the World Bank invites input and review by riparian stakeholders at key points in the study process. Three information sharing sessions were held in May 2011, November 2012, and February 2013 to share emerging analysis from the interim assessment studies and solicit feedback. The fourth information-sharing and consultation meetings on the Assessment Studies for the proposed Roghun Hydropower Project (Roghun HPP) took place on October 17, 18, and 20. The fourth riparian meetings focused on the issue of dam safety, which is part of the ongoing Techno-Economic Assessment Study (TEAS). The meetings presented two summaries of reports: Geological and Geotechnical Investigation of the Salt Wedge in the Dam Foundation and Reservoir; and Assessment of the Existing Roghun HPP Works, including caverns and tunnels.
Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia noted in early October that it is important to clarify that these assessment studies will not determine whether the proposed Roghun dam will be built, nor the final design should a project proceed. “The studies serve as an input to decision-making, but a variety of other factors such as international agreements and financing would need to be considered before the future of the proposed Roghun project is decided,” said Saroj Kumar Jha. “The World Bank has made no financial commitment to support construction of the proposed dam. Our role is to help establish objective, independent, and comprehensive facts for all stakeholders.”
