Daler Juma, Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, has presented five key arguments supporting President Emomali Rahmon’s recent statement regarding the country's energy independence within the next 2 ½ years.
In his latest address to a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament, the president declared that by May 2027, Tajikistan will completely eliminate electricity shortages and achieve absolute energy independence.
According to Mr. Juma, Tajikistan currently faces a seasonal electricity deficit of 1.5 billion kWh during autumn and winter. To bridge this gap and ensure energy security, the government is working in five key areas:
1. Expansion of Roghun hydropower plant (HPP)
· The commissioning of the third turbine (Unit No. 4) at Roghun HPP and raising the reservoir level will triple the plant's capacity.
· Additionally, water regulation from the Roghun reservoir will boost the capacity of downstream Vakhsh River hydropower plants by 400 MW.
2. Launch of Sebzor HPP in GBAO
· In 2024, the Sebzor HPP in the Roshtqal’a district of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) will be commissioned, adding 11 MW to the national grid.
3. Modernization of Major Hydropower Plants
· Reconstruction and modernization of the country's largest Nurek HPP, as well as Qayroqqum HPP and Sarband HPP, will increase total capacity by 431 MW by 2027.
4. Reduction of energy losses
· Cutting commercial electricity losses will lead to more efficient energy consumption among consumers.
5. Development of solar power plants
· By 2027, two solar power plants with a combined capacity of 400 MW will be operational.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), Tajikistan’s installed power generation capacity is currently around 6,000 MW.
However, despite these developments, electricity shortages persist in rural areas. While the energy distribution company claims that households in villages receive electricity for 8-10 hours daily, residents of rural areas report experiencing more frequent and prolonged outages, with some going entire days without power.
