The South Korean government has established a megawatt-class solar power facility in Tajikistan based on international development cooperation (ODA). The initiative aims to support domestic renewable energy companies in entering the Central Asian market, leveraging experience gained from demonstrating domestic solar and energy storage systems (ESS) in high-altitude and harsh environments.
On September 27, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment held a completion ceremony for the ODA project titled 'Construction of Solar Power and Energy Storage Systems in Tajikistan's Sughd and Gorno-Badakhshan Regions' in Gorno-Badakhshan. This project was carried out by the Korea Industrial Technology Promotion Agency as part of an international development cooperation effort in the energy sector. The goal is to diversify power sources in Tajikistan's Sughd Province and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, which face electricity shortages during winter.
The project, which began in 2022 and will conclude this year, has a total budget of 16.912 billion won. It includes the establishment of 3 MW solar power facilities in both Sughd Province and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.
Tajikistan's electricity shortages are linked to its energy source composition. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has noted that the country relies on hydropower for over 90% of its electricity production, leading to severe shortages during winter when river flows decrease. The World Bank has also indicated that Tajikistan experiences chronic winter electricity shortages and is supporting projects to alleviate these shortages through the expansion of hydropower plants. Diversifying power sources, including solar energy, is significant for stabilizing local electricity supply.
In response, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has supported the first large-scale megawatt-class solar power facility in Tajikistan. It is expected to improve living conditions for residents in a region that has long suffered from chronic electricity shortages due to harsh weather and rugged terrain.
This project also provides domestic companies with opportunities for overseas demonstrations. By constructing and validating domestic solar modules and ESS equipment in high-altitude and extreme climate conditions, the quality and technological reliability of domestic materials have been confirmed.
The ministry plans to utilize the data obtained during the operation to enhance the competitiveness of domestic solar and ESS supply chains and to expand exports of renewable energy materials and green industries to overseas markets, including Central Asia.
Kim Ji-young, the ministry's international cooperation officer, stated, 'The completion of the Tajikistan ODA solar power plant is a symbolic achievement that demonstrates the excellent technology of domestic renewable energy in the challenging high-altitude environment. We will actively support the global market entry of domestic solar and energy storage companies based on this demonstration success.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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