As part of the ongoing successful implementation of the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and Pamir Energy Company (PE), two new renewabl enrgy power plants have been commissioned in the region of Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshan (VMKB). These projects were completed by PE with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The commissioning of these plants is a landmark step in the Company’s mission to provide reliable, clean and affordable electricity to the entire Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB) region, and will provide power to the remote mountain communities as they approach the harsh winter season.
“This first utility-scale solar power plant operated in parallel with another renewable energy source. In the coming years, up to 20% of the renewable energy generation capacity in VMKB will be from solar energy, and this will increase significantly over the next seven years across the country,” said Daler Jumaev, recently appointed as the Minster of Energy and Water Resources for Tajikistan and the outgoing General Director of Pamir Energy. “The small ‘Khatfat’ hydropower plant is part of an initiative between the Government of Tajikistan and PE under the framework pf the PPP for the full electrification of VMKB. In the next two years 100% of the population, up from the current 96%, will have access to reliable and high-quality electricity.”
The first plant to be commissioned is a 200kW solar power plant (SPP) located in Murghab, in the eastern district of VMKB. The initial impetus behind this project came from a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Tajikistan and USAID, and is financed primarily by USAID with contributions from PE. The plant is Tajikistan’s largest solar plant and the highest in Central Asia at 3’600 meters above sea level. It also connects to the existing Tojikiston 1.5MW hydropower plant (HPP) and the power produced will improve electricity provision for approximately 8’000 people in Murghab and surrounding areas. The plant was commissioned by the Governor of VMKB, His Excellency Yodgor Faizov, the Head of Murghab District, Husniya Rajabzoda, Acting Deputy Mission Director for USAID in Tajikistan, William Hall, AKF’s CEO, Kishwar Abdulalishoev and Pamir Energy’s Deputy General Director, Farrukh Nazarmavloev, and
“Building a SPP in the remote district of Murghab with the support of a well-recognized partner such as USAID is an incredible step in providing the population of this area with electricity,” said His Excellency, Yodgor Faizov. “We believe that this is not the last step, and in the future we will bring more SPPs to create hybrid grids with hydropower plants.”
The second plant commissioned is the 450kW Khatfat hydropower plant (HPP) located in the Bartang Valley of Rushan. Under the Thrive Tajikistan: Partnership for Socio-Economic Development program, an alliance between USAID and AKF, this plant will ensure that people in the village of Roshorv will have access to uninterrupted electricity for the first time since the era of the Soviet Union. The plant will also connect the nearby villages of Yapshorv, Nisur and Barchidev to a sustainable, reliable electricity network and will impact 398 households (2,196 people) all together. An initial financial contribution to the Khatfat HPP project was made by PE using the £20,000 that it received along with the Ashden Internatinal Prize in 2017. Further funds were provided by AKF (USA), PE and a private donor. The plant was commissioned by the Governor of VMKB, His Excellency Yodgor Faizov, the Head of Rushan District, Farrukh Dodkhudoev, Acting Deputy Mission Director for USAID in Tajikistan, William Hall, AKF’s CEO, Kishwar Abdulalishoev and Pamir Energy’s Deputy General Director, Farrukh Nazarmavloev
“With the expertise of an accomplished company such as Pamir Energy and with the support from AKF, today the people of one the remotest areas of VMKB have access to electricity,” remarked Kishwar Abdulalishoev, “Access to electricity lays a foundation from which the Aga Khan Development Network can accelerate growth across other areas.”
About OJSC “Pamir Energy Company”: Pamir Energy was established as part of a public-private partnership (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 the region of VMKB in Eastern Tajikistan. PE’s establishment marked the formation of the first PPP in Central Asia, with the Government of Tajikistan transferring the operation and management of the energy assets in the region to PE in 2002, but maintaining ownership. PE is a Tajik company registered in Tajikistan and has obtained all the necessary licenses to operate and provide energy services in the country and is co-owned by shareholder AKFED and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). To date, PE has crowded in investments amounting to over USD 112 million with currently active portfolio of about USD 90 million. PE expects to invest over USD 200 million by the end of the concession period.