The international environmental coalition “Rivers Without Borders” has released a bilingual report analyzing various options for completing the Rogun hydroelectric power station in Tajikistan, which is vying to become the world’s tallest dam. As rivers.help reports, the document was presented to the World Bank’s management.
The researchers emphasize the importance of a comparative analysis of different scenarios for the development of Tajikistan’s energy sector, taking into account environmental and social impacts. Such an approach is necessary to reduce risks and optimize investments in the construction of the 335-meter dam.
According to environmentalists, the implementation of the project in its current form does not guarantee a solution to all of the country’s energy problems. It is predicted that periodic power outages will continue until 2036, and the creation of a large reservoir poses risks to the ecosystem and residents in the lower reaches of the Vakhsh River.
The report recommends considering the option of building a lower dam in combination with the development of solar energy. Reducing the height of the dam by 70 meters will reduce the number of residents to be resettled from 40 thousand to one third of the planned number.
The coalition believes that the proposed approach will help solve the problem of winter electricity shortages in Tajikistan by 2030-2031. Diversification of energy sources will strengthen the country’s energy system and increase its adaptability to climate and economic challenges.
It Is worth noting that on December 17, the World Bank approved a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) in the amount of $ 350 million for the first stage of the program to complete the construction of the Rogun HPP. The Bank intends to ensure that the project complies with international environmental standards through enhanced oversight, but the question of the possibility of completely eliminating the environmental risks of a large-scale project remains debatable.
