DUSHANBE, July 24, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan will take further steps on implementation of the Roghun hydropower project (Roghun HPP) only after receiving the final findings of the assessment studies for the project that are expected to be made available in mid-August, Minister of Energy and Water Resources Usmonali Usmonzoda told journalists in Dushanbe on July 23.

“The final findings will be made available to all countries of the region and after that the Tajik government will take decision on construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power with taking into consideration proposals of neighboring countries,” the minister stressed.

According to him, it is still premature to speak about blocking the Vakhsh River for construction of a dam for the Roghun plant. 

We will recall that the fifth information-sharing and consultation meetings on the assessment studies for the proposed Roghun HPP took place on July 14-18 to discuss the draft Techno-Economic Assessment Study (TEAS) Phase 2 Summary Report and the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report with 46 civil society groups and government officials from all six riparian countries (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

The reports discussed last week are the draft final reports of the Assessment Studies, which were prepared by an international consultant consortium led by Coyne & Bellier for the TEAS and by Poyry Energy Ltd. for the ESIA.  The topics covered in these reports and discussed during the riparian meetings include dam safety, water management and reservoir operation, economic and financial analysis, implementation and risks, environmental and social impacts, impact on riparian countries, analysis of alternatives, and others.

The fifth consultation and comment period closes on July 29, 2014.  The assessment studies for the proposed Roghun HPP are then planned to be finalized in August, after comments from riparian governments and civil society stakeholders have been carefully considered.

According to the draft consultants’ reports and the independent Panels of Experts, it is feasible to build and operate a dam at the Roghun site within modern international norms but contingent on incorporating the experts’ recommendations on modifying the original design, implementing the mitigation measures, and establishing monitoring systems throughout the life of any future project.