DUSHANBE, January 2, 2013, Asia-Plus – Pamir Energy Company (PamirEnergy), Tajikistan’s only private power company operating in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

PamirEnergy director general Daler Jumayev noted that the company has produced notable successes over the past ten years, promoting improvement of wellbeing of the population of Gorno Badakhshan.

“In 2002, when the company was established, a total capacity of hydropower plants operated by the company was only 23.7 megawatts,” noted Jumayev.  “Over the past decade, due to introduction into operation of the second line of the Pamir-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and modernization of other hydropower plants operating in the region, the company has increased the total capacity to 43.7 megawatt and over the past five winter seasons, a major part of our customers have had electricity.  Before 2002, only Khorog, the capital of GBAO, had electricity in winter time (only 12 hours per day).  At present, all customers in Khorog as well as in Shugnan and Roshtqala districts and customers in major parts of Rushan and Ishkahsim districts have electricity in the winter regularly.  In other operating zones of PamirEnergy, our customers in winter period have electricity 18-20 hours per day.”

According to him, electricity sales have reportedly increased by 30 percent – from 119 million kWh in 2003 to 155 million in 2012, and the collection of funds from the public and enterprises have increased from 30 percent in 2002 to 103 percent in 2012.

At the same time, the company has increased efficiency.  They have reduced losses from 39 percent to 14.3 percent.

Jumayev also noted that the company planned to implement a number of hydroelectricity projects with the minimum total capacity of 145 megawatts in cooperation with the Tajik government and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) within the next ten years.

Currently, the company jointly with the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) of Tajikistan and AKFED is working on implementation of the Sebzor HPP project.  The Sebzor hydropower plant with capacity of 10 megawatts is being built in the Roshtqala district.

“Introduction of new hydropower plants into operation not only improves quality of power supply in Gorno Badakhshan, it also allows increasing electricity exports to neighboring Afghanistan,” PamirEnergy CEO noted.

He further added that PamirEnergy planned to develop some 50 percent of energy market of Afghan Badakhshan within the next ten years.

PamirEnergy is a joint project of the Government of Tajikistan, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), the World Bank’s private finance division, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).  A total cost of the project is some 26.5 million U.S. dollars, including the Tajik government’s contribution of 10 million U.S. dollars.

The company has a 25 year concession on the assets formerly under the management on Barqi Tojik (Tajik electricity supplier) in Gorno Badakhshan.  In exchange for this concession (management right), PamirEnergy has invested in completing the Pamir hydropower station, rehabilitating power generation, transmission and distribution assets, and improving the management of the company.

The company now operates eleven hydropower plants in the region, including Pamir-1 HPP, the Khorog HPP and nine small hydropower plants located in the GBAO districts.  In the winter time, a total capacity of these plants is some 43 megawatts.