Published: 20 September 2013 г.
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, September 19, 2013.The World Bank Director for Central Asia Saroj Kumar Jha met with the President of Tajikistan EmomaliRahmon today in Dushanbe to discuss ongoing issues of cooperation.Mr. Jha and President Rahmon discussed projects financed by the World Bank in Tajikistan and expressed their satisfaction with the level of current cooperation. Regarding the energy sector, they also discussed the status of the assessment studies of the proposed Rogun Hydro Power Project. The studies are financed by the World Bank under the Energy Loss Reduction Project Additional Financing.
President Rahmon and Mr. Jhareviewed the status of three phases of the studies (Phase 0, I and II) and agreed that the summaries of the reports relating to Phase 0 and Phase I, as well asSeismicity, are ready for disclosureand should be posted for public information and comment by the end of September. The reports were prepared by the consultants (Coyne & Bellier)in cooperation with the Government and have been reviewed by the independent Panel of Experts, the World Bank Technical Team, and the Government Team. Following disclosure, there will be a 4-week period for riparian governments and civil society organizations to review the reports and send their comments to the World Bank. During October, consultations will be held among the six riparian countries (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) to share information and clarify issues on the reports. Similar consultations will be held with civil society organizations.
Mr. Jha and the President also discussed the next steps for completion of PhaseII of the studies, including preparation of already ongoing economic and financial analysis, and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
The World Bank,along with the Government of Tajikistan is committed to ensuring that the assessment studies are completed in an objective and rigorous manner, aligning with current international practices for studying large hydropower projects. The Bank will continue sharing interim findings with the public and with ripariangovernmentsonce they become available.
The active portfolio of the World Bank in Tajikistan currently consists of 12 projects with a net commitment of US$205.9 million. The largest share of the portfolio is in agriculture and rural development (40 percent), followed by water and sanitation (15 percent), human development (14 percent), energy (13 percent), the public sector (12 percent), and the private sector (6 percent).