 | The World Bank Energy Expert Raghuveer Sharma engaging in an interactive dialogue with media representatives |
About 15 journalists gathered in the Tajikistan Country Office on August 21 to have an informal meeting with the World Bank energy team led by Raghuveer Sharma, the World Bank’s Lead Financial Analyst and Central Asian Energy Program Team Leader. The purpose of the briefing was to have an open discussion with journalists and raise their awareness of the country’s energy prospects and how the World Bank can contribute into achieving of Tajikistan’s energy aspirations. Energy is the topical issue not only in Tajikistan but worldwide. For Tajikistan it is particularly pressing, as the Tajiks have still very much in mind last winter freezing temperatures, coupled with an obsolete national power system that hardly coped with the country’s growing energy needs. Tajikistan is experiencing energy problems every winter due to increased demand from population for heating purposes, limited generation capacity and little investment in the existing energy infrastructure since independence.  | | "Avesta" reporter Ismail Kurbanov (in the center) trying to clarify the issue of energy tariffs |
Ironically, Tajikistan is one of the countries with the largest hydro-power potential in the world, as it possesses massive water resources, but with the lowest generation capacity. In order to improve its energy capacity the country needs to improve its investment and business climate, better manage its energy utilities and implement major domestic energy sector reforms to be able to fully meet its internal demand and benefit from energy export earnings. Over the past few years, the Government of Tajikistan has been making efforts to rehabilitate the energy sector. It recognizes that a lot needs to be done to realize the existing capacity of the sector in order to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. With the assistance of the World Bank, the Government of Tajikistan is undertaking a two-track approach. The first track focuses on the modernization of the domestic energy sector, including cost-recovery tariff policy, financial discipline, social protection and institutional reforms. The second track focuses on the development of the energy export market.  | The WB Country Manager Chiara Bronchi (to the right) with journalists at the briefing |
The Tajik media have always been very interested in energy sector development. More than fifty per cent of media request to the Tajikistan Country Office cover the energy sector and the Bank’s related engagement in the country. At the briefing the media representatives have demonstrated particular interest in the completion of the Roghun hydropower plant which would have the designed generation capacity of 3600 megawatt and great export potential. Roghun’s construction started in 80s and was halted soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Over the past few years, the Government of Tajikistan has resumed construction activities in an effort to create a consortium of investors to jointly develop the hydropower plant which has a potential to satisfy domestic needs as well as to contribute considerably to economic growth through export of electricity to the neighboring countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. The World Bank is currently assisting the Government of Tajikistan to carry out a feasibility study as well as a social and environmental impact study for the construction of Roghun hydropower plant. Media representatives have appreciated the opportunity to have an open discussion with and have first-hand information from the World Bank experts on the status and potential of the energy sector in Tajikistan. |
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