Tajikistan's first solar power plant supplies first electricity

DUSHANBE. Aug 25 (Interfax) - A 250 MW solar power plant in the Asht district in Tajikistan's Sughd province's has generated its first electricity, the country's Energy Ministry said.

"The solar power plant in the Asht district has begun generating electricity and supplied its first kilowatt-hours to Tajikistan's power grid. The first phase of the plant has now been launched, and the remaining phases should be operational by the end of the year," the ministry said.

Work in the plant began in November 2025. Local investor Ayon Energy LLC and contractor OJSC Tajikhydroelektromontazh are building it.

Tajikistan's electricity development program for 2026-2030 provides for the commissioning of at least 1.5 GW of new capacity through solar energy, since in the autumn-winter period Tajikistan regularly experiences power supply interruptions due to reduced generation at hydroelectric power plants. This is associated with the instability of river flow that decreases during cold weather.

Tajikistan's government and Ayon Energy LLC signed an investment agreement at the start of this year to build and commission two solar power plants with combined installed capacity of 500 MW.

They include a 250 MW plant in the Sughd province's Asht district and another plant of the same capacity in the Khatlon province's Jayhun district. The investor is committed to designing, building and commissioning the plants by the end of 2026 at a total estimated cost of $250 million.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Technical Cooperation Committee in August approved technical assistance to Tajikistan and the implementation of the Renewable Energy Market Accelerator (REMA) program in the country to create a market infrastructure for solar power in the country.