Expert Tells Uzbek Paper Construction of Tajik Power Plant “Catastrophe”

Excerpt from report by founded by Uzbekistan’s parliament and Cabinet, newspaper Narodnoye Slovo on 2 July

The environment protection, preserving the balanced use of natural resources are becoming topical than ever before in the contemporary world. The international community, concerned about the global environment situation, is making new efforts aimed at the rational use of natural resources.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is one of the respected organizations, working in this field. It was founded in 1991 as a pilot project which is being implemented by the UNDP, the UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] and the World Bank.

Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility Monique Barbut has visited Uzbekistan and agreed to give an interview.

[Passage omitted: background of GEF]

[Correspondent] It is known that countries located on the upper part of the rivers of Amu Darya and Syr Darya are drafting “grandiose” projects on the construction of hydroelectric power stations, all kinds of dams and reservoirs. For example, Tajikistan plans to complete the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station, and Kyrgyzstan is building the Kambar-Ata hydroelectric power station. These well-known “construction projects of the century” had already started during the Soviet era. Our community is concerned about the consequences of the implementation of the large- scale projects. Will this worsen the environment? Will they have a negative impact on the fates of millions of people living in the lower part of the rivers?

[Monique Barbut] Yes, of course, if the large-scale hydroelectric power stations are built anyway, this will be the largest catastrophe for the entire region’s environmental system.

Currently, I would like to deeply study, what exactly they want to build in the upper parts of the rivers and who is going to finance the projects. However, I can say that there are strict international regulations for constructing these kinds of facilities. Therefore, I do not think that an organization will decide to start the construction without seriously studying their possible consequences. There is a need for an international conclusion on possible consequences. For sure, the construction of new dams on the background of decreasing water resources and their lack, and their use for generating energy without serious studies may lead to extremely negative consequences for the balance of water resources and stable development.

[Passage omitted: Uzbekistan has been cooperating with GEF since 1995]

Originally published by Narodnoye Slovo, Tashkent, in Russian 2 Jul 08 pp 1,2.

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