KfW supports world's highest hydropower station in Tajikistan: commissioned following renovation

• Reliable power supply for the town of Murgab
• Innovative construction in the face of extreme weather conditions
• Positive ecological effects

Today in the town of Murgab, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, officially opened the Ak-Suu hydropower station financed by KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The BMZ provided a grant of EUR 7.4 million for this purpose.

The hydropower station is located in east Tajikistan in the Pamir Mountains at an altitude of 3,600 metres, making it one of the highest hydropower stations in the world. Putting the run-of-river power plant with an output of one megawatt into operation provides the around 7,000 people who live in this remote region with a reliable power supply. With only a few frost-free months a year and long, hard winters, the extreme weather conditions made constructing the plant particularly challenging. The old power plant from 1962 had to be completely demolished. The renovation included rebuilding the weir system, canal and the turbine building with operating rooms, storage facility and workshop, as well as the installation of the electric equipment. The power distribution network was renovated by the operator, Pamir Energy.

"For the residents of Murgab, who are some of the poorest in Tajikistan, the renovation of the hydropower station will bring about an incredible improvement to their standard of living. Energy is the basis for improving the standard of living and creates new job opportunities," explained Professor Joachim Nagel, Member of the Executive Board of KfW Group.

Furthermore, there are significant, positive ecological effects. A drastic reduction is expected in the amount of wood and dung used for heating. This will in turn lower the impact from usage on the remaining bushes, which, as the only vegetation that grows in high mountains, plays an important ecological role.

More information on KfW Development Bank is available at:
www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de