In a landmark event marking a turning point in the energy history of VMKB, the 11-megawatt Sebzor Hydropower Plant (HPP) was officially inaugurated today in Roshtqala district.
The ceremony was presided over by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and attended by key international development partners, including the Ambassador of the European Union to Tajikistan, H.E. Raimundas Karoblis, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. York Schuegraf, Regional Director of KfW’s Central Asia Office, Andreas Schneider, as well as other dignitaries from the government and development partners. As part of the Sebzor Resettlement Action Plan, the event also featured a groundbreaking ceremony for a new secondary school for 240 students in the Barjangal settlement.
Located at an altitude of over 2,500 meters above sea level in Roshtqala district, the run-of-river plant has an installed capacity of 11 megawatts. It is equipped with three vertical-axis Pelton turbines, each rated at approximately 3.7 MW. With a design flow of 12 cubic meters per second and a net head of over 110 meters, Sebzor is capable of generating more than 76 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable electricity annually and avoid more than 45,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions each year. The plant is grid-synchronized to strengthen power supply reliability across VMKB which is home to 220,000 people and will also contribute to cross-border electricity exports to northern Afghanistan, ultimately improving access to energy for more than 430,000 people in this historically underserved region. The Sebzor HPP was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with co-financing from EU through KfW Development Bank and executed by Pamir Energy Company.
“Sebzor has become more than a power plant—it is an ecosystem,” said Mr. Daler Juma, Minister of Energy and Water Resources. “Beyond strengthening energy security in this remote and mountainous region, it has catalysed the development of the regional grid and helped transform the landscape of Roshtqala District through substantial investment in social infrastructure.”
The Sebzor HPP is part of Tajikistan’s broader green energy agenda. It exemplifies the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality, enhances energy independence in one of its most remote and underserved regions, and facilitates cross-border electricity trade.
"Today’s launch of the Sebzor Hydropower Plant reflects the European Union’s strong commitment to climate resilience, inclusive development, and energy access in Tajikistan. Aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, this project—developed in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan, Germany and Pamir Energy—invests in sustainable infrastructure that empowers communities, supports renewable energy, and fosters regional cooperation,” said Ambassador Karoblis.
Designed with stringent environmental and social safeguards, the project also delivered wide-ranging benefits through a Livelihood Restoration Program that supported entrepreneurship and community development. The project financed the construction of recreational infrastructure for local communities and a new school as part of the Resettlement Action Plan, further strengthening the social fabric of the region. Notably, the Sebzor Hydropower Plant has been internationally recognized as the first project worldwide to be certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, achieving the Gold Certification in March 2023. This accolade underscores the project's alignment with global best practices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
"The Sebzor hydropower plant will strengthen the resilience of the entire GBAO region to climate change. This is the main reason for the funding allocation under the German Climate and Technology Initiative. We hope that the project will promote economic development and job creation, thus contributing to peace, prosperity, and real poverty reduction in this mountainous region", said Dr. Schneider, Regional Director of KfW’s Central Asia Office.
“As a partner in Tajikistan’s first public-private energy initiative, AKFED is proud that Pamir Energy has successfully implemented such a state-of-the-art infrastructure project in one of the country’s most challenging environments” said Galeb Gulam, Global Head of the Industrial Promotion Services of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. “We are grateful to the Government of Tajikistan, the European Union and the Government of Federal Republic of Germany in advancing rural electrification in Tajikistan through Sebzor”.
Sebzor Hydropower Plant is not only powering communities — it is energizing a new narrative for sustainable development in fragile and remote geographies. It stands as a living testament to how ambition, innovation, and inclusive partnerships can overcome structural challenges and deliver lasting impact. As Tajikistan advances its clean energy transition, Sebzor sets a bold precedent for what responsible and resilient infrastructure can look like in the 21st century.
Pamir Energy was established as a PPP between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and Pamir Energy Company (PE), a subsidiary of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). PE is an integrated energy utility company operating in VMKB, Tajikistan. It is affiliated and associated company of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), which is the infrastructure and industrial development arm of AKFED.
