Iran, Tajikistan Cooperate in Construction of Renewable Energies’ Power Plants

Tajikistan’s minister of energy and water resources said that Tajikistan is engaged in a program that includes construction of 700 megawatts of solar and wind power plants and keeping in mind Iran’s invaluable experience in this field we hope to establish a valuable bilateral cooperation in this field. Minister Juma Daler Shofakir in his meeting with the Iranian Energy (Water and Electricity ) Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian added: “Iran and Tajikistan have valuable experience in construction of the Sangtoudeh-II hydroelectric power plant and "we hope in our bilateral cooperation in construction of solar and wind power plants that experience will help us".

Juma for his part, mentioned his country’s abundant water resources and noted: "Tajikistan has good water reserves which can be used for electricity generation; this can create opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.” He further referred to a joint hydropower plant project which is being implemented by the two countries, saying: “This is the fourth and largest project in Tajikistan currently underway. The Republic of Tajikistan is very pleased to carry out the largest hydropower plant project with a production capacity of 3,700 megawatts (MW) with engineers from Iranian companies.” The official expressed his country’s willingness for benefiting from Iran’s technical and engineering services in the coming years. “We plan to build more than 700 MW of power plants using various sources such as solar and wind power in the near future,” he added.

“The Iranian firms have broad participation in Tajikistan’s project and of our country’s largest Rogun Dam and Water Power plant is one of the major projects under construction in collaboration with Iranian engineering companies,” he added. Tajikistan’s minister of energy and water resources said that the Rogun power plant can generate 3,700 megawatts of hydropower. Juma Daler Shofakir added that in upcoming years Tajikistan will construct new water power plants, as this is included in that country’s development plan. “We are glad that we have signed the contract on construction of the Sangtoudeh Dam with Iran, and today we talked about construction of new power plants,” he added.

Addressing the press after the meeting with Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma, Iranian Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian referred to the emphasis of the presidents of both countries on the development of relations, especially in the economic field. "Reviewing the statistics of Iran's exports to Tajikistan in the current [Iranian calendar] year (ends on March 20) indicates that we are witnessing an acceptable growth in this field," Mehrabian said. He noted that there are many areas for cooperation between the two countries, saying: “The presence of Iranian companies in some projects in Tajikistan and participation in the construction of hydropower plants is an example of such cooperation.” Referring to the positive cooperation between the two countries in various fields including the transit of goods, Mehrabian expressed hope that with the potential and capacity that exists in the two countries, the two sides will be able to enhance such cooperation. - IRNA, Tehran Times