Being in line with the strategic goal of Tajikistan in ensuring energy security and efficiency, JICA supports promotion of renewable energy and energy saving, as well as reduction of harmful emissions by providing solar electricity generation system (photovoltaic system).

According to JICA Office in Tajikistan, the handover ceremony of photovoltaic system provided to the hospital under the JICA Grant Aid “Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System” was held at Dushanbe Maternity Hospital No. 1 on June11.

The ceremony was reportedly attended by the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, Saida Umarzoda, Japan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, the Chief Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office, Mr. Hideki Tanabe and others.

Since launching of the Project in 2010, photovoltaic systems were installed at three hospitals in Dushanbe: the National Medical Center (120 kW), the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology (40 kW) and the city maternity hospital №1 of Dushanbe (30 kW).  The systems can be easily maintained and enable to reduce power purchase from utility grid, which will contribute to reducing electricity costs of the hospitals by 6-17%. 

During the opening remarks at the ceremony, Ms. Saida Umarzoda thanked the Embassy of Japan and JICA for their significant contribution to the development of the health sector in Tajikistan and emphasized that all equipment will be carefully and accurately used and maintained.

Mr. Hajime Kitaoka stressed out the importance of proper use and control of equipment to prolong its life cycle.  He also noted that Tajikistan has huge reserves of solar energy and the joint work of the two countries in this direction will make renewable energy sources more sustainable and dominant.

Prior to the ceremony, a series of workshop and training for ensuring appropriate operation and maintenance of the photovoltaic system was also conducted for engineers and senior management of the target hospitals.  In the course of the seminar conducted at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population on June 6, Japanese specialists from the well-known Japanese company “Kyocera”, who is the manufacture of the solar panels provided to Tajikistan, gave a comprehensive overview of photovoltaic system and know-hows of its maintenance.  Good understanding and knowledge of senior management is essential for ensuring effective use of the system.  Moreover, joint training for the engineers of the three hospitals enabled engineers not only to familiarize themselves about the system, but also build cooperative relationship for knowledge and experience sharing for better maintenance.

JICA intends to continue its support to Tajikistan in achieving energy security by diversifying its energy sources and promoting clean energy.

JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development. As of January 2018, a total number of participants to JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, formerly called the Training Programs, has exceeded 2200 people. JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building as well as SME promotion. JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 35 projects amounting to more than 349.6 million USD (82 million USD for Technical Cooperation and 267.6 million USD for Grant Assistance), including 11 on-going projects.