Dushanbe, Tajikistan – The representatives of the government bodies, science and research institutions of Tajikistan, the European Union (EU) and international organisations gathered at the Regional Conference “Prospects for Renewable Energy Development in the Republic of Tajikistan”.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, National Academy of Science of Tajikistan, and Association of Renewable Energy of Tajikistan, in partnership with the EU, GIZ, UNDP, and USAID.

Tajikistan’s hydropower potential is three times higher than the current electricity consumption across the country, as reported by the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. In recent years, the country has been facing new challenges in the energy sector. The hydropower sector is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, which cause a rapid melting of glaciers – the main source of water for hydroelectric power plants. Therefore, the Government pays special attention to the widespread use of renewable energy (RE) sources as a resource for diversifying electricity generation.

During the presentations and discussions at the Conference, the delegates reviewed ongoing RE and green economy initiatives in Central Asia, the challenges faced by the region and the energy sector, as well as the prospects for deployment of RE projects, including their technical, economic and financial aspects. The development partners – the EU (through its SECCA project), GIZ, UNDP, and USAID – presented on their current support to Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries. The SECCA project moderated the Conference session on implementation of rooftop solar initiatives in Tajikistan and reported on its ongoing work in the area.