Construction of the Roghun power station in Tajikistan: The Water-Energy Nexus in Central Asia

(BY HUGO)

A recent article by Murodbek Laldjebaev in the International Journal of Water Resources Development under the title «The Water-Energy Puzzle in Central Asia: The Tajikistan Perspective», explores the issues related to water scarcity and energy shortages from a Tajikistan perspective.

The problem stems in part from extensive irrigation in the summer which requires dam releases to sustain low flows and agriculture during the water scarce season. In turn, this prevents water saving in hydropower reservoirs to produce energy when needed during the cold winter.

Interestingly according to the article, unilateral action from upstream Tajikistan to start building the Roghun power station appears to pave the way for cooperation between basin countries in Central Asia. Laldjebaev concludes that:

«The short-term recommendation for this option, therefore, is to maintain an emphasis on the construction of Roghun HPS. In the long-term, however, Tajikistan should not place high stakes on the construction and in fact it should be prepared to abandon the project in case the social, environmental, and financial costs outweigh the potential benefits.»