Russian Dagestan-based companies are ready to build mini solar power plants in the highlands of Tajikistan, Interfax news agency reported today morning.
This issue was reportedly discussed at a meeting of Badrutin Magomedov, the President of the Dagestan Commerce and Industry Chamber, with Tajikistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation Davlatshoh Gulmahmadzoda, which took place on May 30.
“Dagestan could arrange construction of mini solar power plants in Tajikistan especially in the Pamirs, in the highlands. Our company Dagkremoniy LLC has an experience of construction [of solar power plants] in Bangladesh and Nepal. And I think this is a promising direction,” Mr. Magomedov was cited as saying.
The Telegram-Channel of Dagestan’s Ministry of Economics and Territorial Development says Tajik ambassador also met with a number of Dagestani entrepreneurs.
Gulmahmadzoda reportedly noted Tajikistan is interested in expanding cooperation with Russia’s Dagestan Republic.
“We have good experience in cultivating cotton, early vegetables, grapes and fruits as well as in supplying fruits and dried fruits,” Tajik diplomat noted, inviting Dagestani entrepreneurs to visit Tajikistan to explore these opportunities.
It is to be noted that the estimated potential of solar energy in Tajikistan is about 25 billion kWh / year. This potential is not used, if not to take into account some of its use for water heating. The country is located between 36°40′ and 41°05′ north latitude. Meteorologists call this zone a “golden belt” of sunshine.
According to the Agency of Hydrometeorology of Tajikistan, the duration of sunshine in the country is 2100-3166 hours per year, and the number of sunny days per year ranges from 260 to 300. This provides great opportunities for the use of solar energy as an alternative, especially in mountainous regions where there are no power lines.
According to the preliminary data from the Ministry of Energy of Water Resources of Tajikistan, the potential for the use of solar energy is 3.103 billion kWh per year. This amount would be enough to cover the winter power shortage partially in Tajikistan in regions of the country where 70% of the population lives.
Recall, the country’s first solar power plant was launched in Murgab district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) in 2020. This solar plant is a direct result of successful cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan, USAID, and Pamir Energy Company. The solar power station has a capacity of 220 kW. For comparison, the capacity of the smallest hydropower plant in Tajikistan – Varzob Hydropower Plant-3 is 3.52 MW, and the largest operating hydroelectric power plant – Nurek – 3000 MW and it generates 70% of electricity consumed in Tajikistan.
On May 1, the Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma met with the World Bank mission led Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee, the Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia in the Energy and Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank. The press center of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan (MoEWR) noted that the parties had discussed the process of developing the private solar energy project expected to be launched in the northern province of Sughd.
