Tajikistan and EBRD agree to work on energy reform

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Friday May 15, during the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, the Government of Tajikistan and the EBRD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the reform agenda which is the precondition to the financing of the landmark regional electricity transmission project, known as CASA 1000.

According the EBRD, the project, which involves a number of other international financial institutions and donors, including the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, will consist of many elements. The EBRD is considering financing the modernization of Tajikistan’s domestic transmission infrastructure.

The EBRD financing will be subject to reform of Tajikistan’s state-owned energy company, Barqi Tojik.  As part of its modernization agenda, the company will set out third-party access rules for the transmission line and an independent energy regulator will be established.

EBRD Managing Director for Energy and Natural Resources, Riccardo Puliti, signed the MoU with Jamoliddin Nouraliyev, First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, who represented the Government of Tajikistan.

CASA 1000, which stands for “Central Asia-South Asia”, is a planned transmission line which is envisaged to span four countries and to bring hydro-generated electricity from the two Central Asian countries, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, to electricity-hungry Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Previously, as part of its focus on the electricity sector in Tajikistan, the EBRD arranged a financing package of US$ 75 million for modernization of the Qairoqqum Hydropower Plant in the north.  The project will include an innovative climate resilience mechanism. 

Tajikistan and EBRD agree to work on energy reform

DUSHANBE, May 17, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Friday May 15, during the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, the Government of Tajikistan and the EBRD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the reform agenda which is the precondition to the financing of the landmark regional electricity transmission project, known as CASA 1000.

According the EBRD, the project, which involves a number of other international financial institutions and donors, including the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, will consist of many elements. The EBRD is considering financing the modernization of Tajikistan’s domestic transmission infrastructure.

The EBRD financing will be subject to reform of Tajikistan’s state-owned energy company, Barqi Tojik.  As part of its modernization agenda, the company will set out third-party access rules for the transmission line and an independent energy regulator will be established.

EBRD Managing Director for Energy and Natural Resources, Riccardo Puliti, signed the MoU with Jamoliddin Nouraliyev, First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, who represented the Government of Tajikistan.

CASA 1000, which stands for “Central Asia-South Asia”, is a planned transmission line which is envisaged to span four countries and to bring hydro-generated electricity from the two Central Asian countries, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, to electricity-hungry Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Previously, as part of its focus on the electricity sector in Tajikistan, the EBRD arranged a financing package of US$ 75 million for modernization of the Qairoqqum Hydropower Plant in the north.  The project will include an innovative climate resilience mechanism.