On Tuesday May 21, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, Zavqi Zavqizoda, met here with a group of senior representatives of China Pingmei Shenma Holding Group Co. Ltd, including Deputy General Director of China Pingmei Shenma Holding Group Li Xin, Chairman of Pingmei Longji New Energy Technology Co. Ltd Gao Zhixian, Deputy Chief Engineer of China Pingmei Shenma Holding Group Cheng Wei, Director of Capital Operations Department of China Pingmei Shenma Holding Group Cheng Jingwei, and Xiangshan Mine Pingmei Co. Ltd Manager Li Wanli, the press center of the Ministry of economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) says.
In the course of the talks, Tajik minister reportedly presented the opportunities of investing in Tajikistan’s economy, priority areas and areas for attracting foreign investment, including in the country's free economic zones (FZs) and the provision of tax and administrative benefits for the creation of industrial enterprises and called on the China Pingmei Shenma Holding Group Co. Ltd to invest in coal and gas mining, the production of solar panels, the construction of metallurgical enterprises and thermal power plants in Dushanbe, a textile complex to launch a full cycle of processing cotton fiber to final products, pharmaceutical enterprises and the implementation of other priority investment projects in the country.
The MoEDT press center further noted that this corporation is already working on the construction of solar power plants in Panj and Danghara free economic zones with a total capacity of 1000 MW (with an investment of US$400 million).
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s news agency Trend reports that Sughd governor Rajabboy Ahmadzoda met with senior representatives of China’s State investment Group in Khujand on May 18.
The parties reportedly discussed issues related to the construction of a solar panel complex in northern Tajikistan.
The parties, in particular, discussed expanding cooperation on importing a modern complex to create a functional alternative energy supply system. Ahmadzoda reportedly noted that the region is ready to utilize the latest technologies for electricity production.
Recall, Tajikistan’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 plant has a capacity of 200 kW.
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 potential of solar energy in Tajikistan is reportedly quite high. 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 (Hydromet), 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.
Meanwhile, CABAR.asia reported on March 20 that there are no favorable conditions in Tajikistan for the widespread use of solar energy or for attracting investment in this sector. This is reportedly happening amid constant energy shortages and a crisis in the country’s electric power system.
