DUSHANBE, April 22, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The environmental and social impact assessment for the Roghun hydroelectricity project is nearing completion and it will be submitted for consideration to the Tajik government in the near future, Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sehrali announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 22.

According to him, specialists from Swiss Poyry Energy Ltd that was granted a contract for conducting the environmental and social impact assessment are currently considering some proposals and remarks of the country’s government.

The minister noted that the environmental and social impact assessment for the project was expected to be completed by the end of May.  “Experts from the World Bank will be here in two weeks and they will ascertain the date of presentation of the assessment findings,” Gul Sehrali sad, adding that no changes will be made to the project’s parameters.

Construction of the Roghun HPP was started around 1980 and was stopped in 1992.  Since then, the Government of Tajikistan has allocated a minimum budget to continue works on a low key and maintenance basis.  Currently most of the site preparation works as well as an estimated 70% of the underground works have reportedly been completed.  The installed capacity is proposed to be 6x600 MW (totaling 3,600 MW) and the annual power generation would be 13,300 GWh.  Despite significant storage, Roghun HPP is expected to produce electricity in Tajikistan and develop irrigation in the region.  The majority of the electricity to be produced by Roghun HPP is expected to be exported.

These plans have raised serious concerns across the border in Uzbekistan.  Uzbek officials argue that because it could take up to 18 years to fill, the Roghun project will severely reduce the amount of water flowing into Uzbekistan.

In March 2010, the government of Tajikistan and the World Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to achieve sustainable development of Tajikistan''s energy resources, secure supply of energy services to the people of Tajikistan and promote balanced economic growth.  Under this document, the techno-economic, the environmental and social impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project are conducted.