Tajik hydroelectricity: Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon used his annual address to parliament last week to reaffirm his government’s commitment to the construction of a number of hydroelectric power plants as a means of safeguarding Tajikistan’s energy independence. Key to resolving this issue, he implied, was the construction of the controversial Rogun hydroelectric power plant with its 335m dam, a project that has been heavily criticised by some neighbouring countries. Uzbekistan in particular is concerned that its location in a seismic area in the Pamir Mountains might cause a man-made and environment disaster. Rahmon told parliament that he was looking to Russia – which has already built the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant south of Dushanbe and is aiming to build another two hydroelectricpower stations on Tajikistan’s internal river – to help Tajikistan realise its energy ambitions. ITAR-TASS
Tajik hydroelectricity to energy independence – Rahmon
Pamir Mountains Tajikistan