Tajik, Kazakh energy ministers discuss synchronization of regional power grids

DUSHANBE. Oct 2 (Interfax) - Tajikistan's Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma and Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues, including the synchronization of regional power grids, at a meeting in Astana as part of Kazakhstan Energy Week - 2025, the Tajik Energy Ministry's press service said.

"The Kazakh side expressed readiness to sign an intergovernmental agreement on electricity supplies from the Rogun hydropower plant. The parties also discussed synchronizing the power grids of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan," the statement said.

It said these talks would give a serious impetus to the development and expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The 3.6 GW Rogun HPP, which is being built on the Vakhsh River, will be the largest hydropower plant in the region. It will consist of six 600 MW units. The total volume of water in the reservoir will reach 13.3 cubic kilometers and its useful volume will be 10.3 cubic kilometers. It is planned that the reservoir will be filled within 15-17 years.

The first unit was put into operation on November 16, 2018 and the second on September 9, 2019.

It is assumed that around 70% of the electricity generated by the station will be exported to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to replace electricity generation using fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

A total of $6.29 billion is required to complete the construction of the HPP. Financing will be provided through project revenues, Tajikistan's internal resources and development partners.