World Bank (WB) Director of Operations Anna Bjerde said that her organization will continue to finance the construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station in Tajikistan, considering this project important for the whole of Central Asia.
«Rogun hydroelectric power station — an important project in the “green” energy production sector, of great importance not only for the people of Tajikistan, but also for the entire region. We hope that our cooperation will enter a new phase and lay the foundation for strengthening the sustainable development of the country», — Bjerde emphasized.
She added that the World Bank is one of nine partners supporting the project to build this large hydroelectric power station.
As part of its visit to Tajikistan, a World Bank delegation visited the site, accompanied by the Prime Minister of the Republic, Kohir Rasulzod. Foreign guests got acquainted with the main stages of construction by inspecting underground sections, transport tunnels and the turbine system. World Bank representatives praised the pace of project implementation. Bjerde emphasized that the Rogun hydroelectric power station is a symbol of national will, sustainability of development processes and an example of successful cooperation between international organizations and the authorities of Tajikistan.
«We are encouraged by this progress and are ready to continue cooperation in this direction», — summed up the top manager of the World Bank.
As Tajik media add, the World Bank delegation held a meeting in Dushanbe with the country’s President Emomali Rahmon. It was noted that the international financial institution has been cooperating with the republic for more than 30 years; the World Bank’s portfolio of projects in Tajikistan today amounts to $3.3 billion.
Bjerde emphasized that the most important areas of partnership are reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of the population in cities and villages. In addition, projects are being implemented in the infrastructure, agriculture, water and sanitation sectors with the participation of the bank.
Meanwhile, with the Rogun hydroelectric power station project, not everything is so simple. The environmental coalition «Rivers Without Borders» warned that in its current form the project poses a colossal threat to the environment, so the World Bank cannot ignore its own standards and is obliged to provide a comprehensive and objective risk assessment before continuing financial injections into construction. It recently became known that the World Bank has received complaints from residents of neighboring republics — Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, who believe that construction could negatively affect the ecology of the lower reaches of the Amu Darya. This issue will be studied by a group of experts.
Rogun hydroelectric power station — the largest energy project in Tajikistan. Completion of all stages of construction of the hydroelectric power station is planned by the end of 2031. Currently, two units with a capacity of 600 MW each are operating at the site, the third is planned to be launched this year. Upon completion of the project, the Rogun hydroelectric power station is expected to become the largest hydroelectric power station in Central Asia with an installed capacity of 3,600 MW and annual electricity generation of 13 to 17 billion kWh.
IA «Fergana»
