Linking to Tajikistan's surplus power

Not breaking news, but worth noting: the Asian Development Bank has authorized $56.5 million in loans (which will be supplemented by several other funds) to allow Afghanistan to tap into Tajikistan's surplus hydropower. According to GlobalSecurity.org, Tajikistan has the greatest hydroelectric capacity in Central Asia; in fact it has could increase its production almost twentyfold (it currently produces 16.5 billion kilowatt hours per year, but could produce 300 billion kw hours.) The project is due for completion in 2010 and should relieve some of Afghanistan's power shortages:

ADB backing energy cooperation between Afghanistan and Tajikistan KABUL: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is backing a project to tap Tajikistan’s power surplus to meet shortfalls in neighboring Afghanistan through loans to the two countries totaling US$56.5 million. MORE

Photo: Nurek Dam, the world's tallest, sits astride the Vakhsh River in western Tajikistan.

Tajikistan’s annual generated capacity is 4,405 MW, most of which comes from hydropower. An annual surplus of about 1,500 gigawatt-hours is available for export, but only for about half a year during the spring-summer period. Part of the surplus is already exported through Uzbekistan via its southern grid while the rest is not utilized...

"The project offers a win-win situation for both Afghanistan and Tajikistan," says Xavier Humbert, an ADB Energy Specialist. "It will restore power supply and reduce costs for consumers in the former while allowing Tajikistan to export 300 megawatts."

The total net economic benefits of regional cooperation of the project are estimated to be US$114 million, split fairly evenly between the two countries...Other financiers of the project, which will cost an estimated US$109.5 million, are the OPEC Fund for International Development, Islamic Development Bank, Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, and the Afghanistan and Tajikistan governments.

Comments

[Major John]

Good news for Konduz, yes?