DUSHANBE, May 11, 2010, Asia-Plus  – On May 6, Executive Board of the World Bank approved US $15 million as an additional grant for the Energy Emergency Recovery Assistance project for Tajikistan from International Development Association (IDA) funds, press release issued by the World Bank Dushanbe Office said.

This additional financing is prepared to provide support to meet energy shortages during the winters of 2009-10 and 2010-11 and mitigate the heavy social costs and humanitarian crises that result from the Tajikistan network disconnection from the Central Asia Power System.  Plans for overcoming the energy crisis in the country are reflected in the Energy Emergency Mitigation Action Plan (EEMAP) that was developed by the Tajikistan Government in 2007-2008 and further updated in late 2009. Energy Emergency Recovery Assistance project will help to implement the updated EEMAP.

“These funds were approved by the Executive Board of the World Bank in response to the Government of Tajikistan request to address the energy shortages in the country. The World Bank will continue supporting Tajikistan in the sector of energy in order to increase heat and power supply to the entire country,” said Zainiddin Karaev, Acting Country Manager of the World Bank in Tajikistan.

The project aims to increase the volume and reliability of energy supply, especially in the winter seasons in Tajikistan. More specifically, the additional financing aims to: (a) ensure basic access to electricity for about 250,000 people in northern Tajikistan, and (b) increase heat and power supply to the entire country, without overdrawing or depleting hydro resources in winter.

The proposed activities under these funds will be implemented by Project Management Group within the Barki Tojik Company.