DUSHANBE, January 27, 2015, Asia-Plus -- According to Barqi Tojik (a state-owned power utility company), seven mini hydropower plants were built and introduced into operation in Tajikistan last year.

The power plants were reportedly built in the framework of the project, Construction of Mini Hydropower Plants (MHPP) in Rural Areas of Tajikistan, which is supported by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The mini hydropower plants were successfully constructed and launched in Ayni (Marzich MHPP with capacity of 4,300 kWh), Tojikobod (Fathobod MHPP with capacity of 282 kWh), Nourobod (Shashboloi MHPP with capacity of 182 kWh), Jirgatol (Pitavkul MHPP with capacity of 1,100 kWh), Rasht (Sangikar MHPP with capacity of 1,000 kWh), Tursunzoda (Shirkent MHPP with capacity of 576 kWh) and Baljuvon (Khorma MHPP with capacity 180 kWh) districts.

According to data of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, more than 300 mini hydropower plants have been constructed in Tajikistan to date; 170 of them do not operate during winter period.

With its dense network of rivers, Tajikistan is the eighth richest country in the world in terms of hydropower resources. But lack of investment has meant that this resource is vastly underutilized with electricity supplies still failing to meet the country''s needs.  Energy shortages mostly affect rural areas of the country, where 70% of the overall population resides.

The project, Construction of Mini Hydropower Plants (MHPP) in Rural Areas of Tajikistan, aims to reduce the country''s overall energy shortage by constructing over 170 mini hydropower plants in rural areas. These plants will be the main source of energy not just for households but also for critical social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, agriculture and other social support and commercial activities.  The initial phase of the project, which commenced in 2004, entailed constructing eight mini hydropower plants in various remote and rural areas of the country.