ADB may allocate $500 mln for construction of Rogun HPP in Tajikistan
DUSHANBE. Feb 25 (Interfax) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will join a consortium of international financial institutions participating in the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) construction project, the ADB's permanent representative in Tajikistan, Ko Sakamoto, told journalists on Tuesday.
"The Tajik government has invited the ADB to join the consortium of international financial institutions to support the construction of the Rogun HPP. We understand that completing the Rogun HPP is the most important project for Tajikistan's government. It is crucial not only for the production of green energy in Tajikistan but also for the entire region, helping to address climate change issues," Sakamoto said.
The Tajik government has requested $500 million in assistance from the ADB for the project.
"The timeline for approving this assistance, as well as the specific modality of support, is currently under discussion with the Tajik government," he said.
During 27 years of cooperation, the ADB has provided Tajikistan with $2.7 billion in assistance for 198 projects, of which $2.2 billion was granted on a non-repayable basis, he said.
In 2024, the ADB allocated $220 million to Tajikistan for six projects in the agriculture, energy, healthcare, transportation and public sector management sectors.
The Rogun HPP, which is being constructed on the Vakhsh river, will consist of six units each with a capacity of 600 MW, for a total capacity of 3,600 MW. It will become the largest such facility in the region. The total water volume in the reservoir will reach 13.3 cubic kilometers, with an active volume of 10.3 cubic kilometers. According to the plan, the reservoir will be filled with water over 15-17 years.
The first unit of the Rogun HPP was commissioned on November 16, 2018, and the second on September 9, 2019.
According to the World Bank, the Rogun HPP will improve electricity access for around 10 million people in Tajikistan and help mitigate the country's recurring winter electricity shortages.
It is expected that approximately 70% of the electricity generated by the power plant will be exported to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to replace fossil fuel-based electricity production, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In total, $6.29 billion is required to complete the construction, with financing coming from project revenues, Tajikistan's domestic resources and development partners.
It is expected that a total of $2.97 billion in grants and concessional financing will be attracted from a group of partners and investors, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the European Union, the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Saudi Fund, the Abu Dhabi Fund, the Kuwait Fund and several others.
