EBRD to help Tajikistan establish solar power market

DUSHANBE. Aug 20 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Technical Cooperation Committee has approved technical assistance to Tajikistan and the implementation of the Renewable Energy Market Accelerator (REMA) program in the country, the bank says on its website.

"The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources has officially requested EBRD support towards the development of solar auctions. This Assignment involves providing support in revising the existing legislative framework, designing in detail a competitive bidding process for supporting renewable energy and specifically solar PV, and preparing the documentation needed for the tender as well as providing implementation support to authorities to administer the tender up to financial close," the EBRD said.

The key objectives of this assignment are to prepare and conduct auctions for up to two solar PV projects with a capacity of around 200 MW each. The assignment will be structured in two phases. The first phase will support broader energy sector reform efforts in the country, and the second phase will encompass the implementation of the first phase recommendations and implementation of auctions for the two solar projects.

It said Tajikistan faced several constraints for the development of the renewable energy, and specifically utility-scale solar PV, such as a mountainous topography, the condition of its transmission infrastructure and grid connection issues, the level of tariffs and affordability considerations, financial sustainability constraints, bankability consideration and the need to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework.