Tajikistan to embed Hydropower Sustainability Standard in national policy under new agreement

Announcement

5 Dec

Written By HSA

The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan has committed to embedding the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) in national policy under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a pivotal step in advancing sustainable hydropower practices in Central Asia.

The MoU, signed ahead of COP29 between the Ministry and the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), outlines common objectives on the development of sustainable hydropower projects, and establishes mutual areas for long-term collaboration.

Minister of Energy of Tajikistan Daler Juma, International Hydropower Association President and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and HSA Senior Sustainability Specialist Amina Kadyrzhanova during meetings in Baku at COP29, discussing the next steps for implementing the Hydropower Sustainability Standard in Tajikistan.

A major step forward

The agreement highlights Tajikistan’s ambition to lead by example in sustainable energy development. Alain Kilajian, Deputy Executive Director of HSA and co-signatory of the MoU, said: “We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Tajikistan. The country has been at the forefront of progress in the hydropower sector, with its Sebzor HPP already having become the first project to be certified under the HSS.

“Hydropower is essential to meeting the world’s climate targets, but it must be developed sustainably. Tajikistan has made the technology a cornerstone of its clean energy strategy, and the Hydropower Sustainability Standard provides the basis to ensure it is implemented in a way that protects nature and empowers communities.

“Too often, governments are criticised for failing to back up words with meaningful action. This agreement sets out tangible steps to deliver on sustainable development promises, and serves as a model for others. Our collaboration with the Government of Tajikistan represents a major step forward in achieving our shared goals, and I hope it will inspire similar commitments globally.

“As the discussions at COP29 reverberate around the world, we call on more governments to harness the Hydropower Sustainability Standard to ensure that sustainable practices are fully integrated at every stage of a project’s life cycle.”

The Government of Tajikistan is one of three national governments working actively to embed hydropower sustainability practices into national policy based on the application of the HSS, along with Colombia, Nepal and Indonesia.

The key areas of collaboration

The new MoU, which will be in place for an initial period of two years, outlines several areas of cooperation.

In addition to embedding the HSS in regulation, the Ministry has also committed to assessing current projects, promoting how assessments can improve ESG performance, and exploring how the permitting processes for hydropower can be streamlined. These steps aim to enhance the country’s clean energy credentials and attract international investment.

The parties will also work together to build capacity within government staff through a programme of trainings, workshops and site assessments.

You can download the full MoU to read more details on the collaboration.