The European Delegation to Tajikistan and KfW signed a 20 million Euro agreement for construction of a small hydroelectric power plant in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
On Friday December 6, the EU Ambassador Ms. Marilyn Josefson and KfW office Dushanbe Director – Dr. Andreas Schneider signed a Contribution Agreement for financing construction of a small hydropower plant Sebzor in GBAO’s Roshtqala district.
According to the press release issued by the European Delegation, the ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources – Ms. Sharifa Khudobakhsh, World Bank Country Director – Dr. Jan-Peter Olters, Director of Pamir Energy Company – Mr. Daler Jumayev, Head of Aga Khan Foundation – Mr. Kishwar Abdulalishoyev and by the representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The committed funds of 20 million Euros reportedly come as a contribution to 17 million Euros allocated for this project earlier by German Government to Tajikistan during the intergovernmental negotiations in 2018. With this agreement signed the total financing for construction of the project will consist 37 million Euros.
In her speech, Ambassador Josefson underlined the social and environmental importance of the project which shall also have a potential to supply reliable energy to settlements in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province.
Dr. Schneider mentioned that the project will improve generation and supply of clean energy in the Roshtqala district as well as in the GBAO. Besides, he noted that the project is a very good example of coordination among Development Partners and the Government of Tajikistan. He mentioned that the World Bank contributed to the project by funding several important studies necessary for preparation of the action, USAID has allocated funding to support implementation capacity of Pamir Energy and SECO committed funding for an 18 km transmission line from Sebzor HPP to Khorog and a new sub-station.
The project foresees construction of an 11 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant on the Shokhdara River with an expected generation capacity of 74.5 million kWh per year. The project will be financed through state-owned German Development bank – KfW. The executing agency for the project is Pamir Energy Company, who operates the GBAO energy system on the basis of a concession agreement with the Government of Tajikistan.
