Expert Kudryats notes solid energy potential of Tajikistan

The Republic has the capacity to produce “green energy” and meet the needs of Central Asia.

The development of the power industry and the achievement of energy security have become the matters of great urgency for Central Asia. It all began with a huge blackout on January 25 this year. Power outages hit Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that have the unified energy system. According to some sources, Tajikistan is seeking to reconnect to this system. However, it is highly problematic to do so after many years.

The CentralAsia.news editorial staff approached an independent expert Yevgeny Kudryats for his comments on the development of Tajikistan’s power sector. Moreover, the interlocutor shared his opinion on the energy potential of the Republic.

On the leaderboard and an untapped potential

Tajikistan has huge reserves of hydropower resources estimated at 527 billion kWh per year. To date, the country uses only 4-5%, the expert noted. Tajikistan has the eighth-largest hydropower reserves after China, Russia, the USA, Brazil, Zaire, India and Canada.  Hydroelectricity makes up 95% or more of this sector of the country.

According to Kudryats, Tajikistan’s hydropower potential is three times higher than current electricity consumption all over Central Asia. The efficient use of these resources will allow providing the region with inexpensive and eco-friendly energy. The basins of the Vakhsh, Pyanj, Amu-Darya, Syr-Darya and Zeravshan rivers have the main hydropower potential.

“Seasonal problems”

“The operating capacity of Tajikistan’s power system is 5,190 MW, with the hydroelectric power plants accounting for 93.9% of the total capacity. The share of thermal power plants is 318 MW, i.e., about 6.1%. On average, Tajikistan’s power system that mainly comprises hydroelectric power plants generates 16.5 billion kWh per year, Kudryats said.

The Republic experiences significant electricity shortages (2.2-2.5 billion kWh) during the winter period. Because of that the authorities have to impose restrictions on supply of electric power, which especially affects the rural population, Kudryats said. He noted that the rural population forms 70% of country’s population. Limited supply of electric energy to rural areas causes agricultural production loss of up to almost 30% each year.

Even during the summer period Tajikistan faces a problem in the energy sector, which has an impressive impact on its economy.

“The power supply is most reliable during the summer period, as the surplus of energy is between 3 and 7 billion kWh. The surplus of water leads to significant idle discharge, which is seen as a huge potential loss of energy. Depending on the hydrological conditions of the year, the economic damage is evaluated at US$ 90-225 million per year,” the expert said.

Not just rivers

It should not be assumed that the energy potential of Tajikistan is limited to hydropower. Kudryats emphasised that the country has the capacity to generate solar power. According to the expert, the local climate is favourable for solar power generation.

“On average, there are 280-330 sunny days a year in the country, and solar radiation has an intensity that varies throughout the year from 280 to 925 MJ/m2 in submountain areas, and from 360 to 1120 MJ/m2 in mountainous areas. The use of available solar power in Tajikistan can meet 10-20% of energy consumption,” Kudryats said.

The expert emphasised that Tajikistan has the solar energy capacity of 25 billion kWh per year. Today, this sector is developing very slowly.

The interlocutor also noted the wind energy capacity. However, it is natural to develop this energy sector in mountainous areas.

01 03 2022, 10:51
Photo source: 1tv.ru

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