Tajikistan : Reconnection to the Central Asian Power System Project

Project Name

Reconnection to the Central Asian Power System Project

Project Number

52122-001

Country / Economy

• Tajikistan

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Grant

Source of Funding / Amount

Grant 0622-TAJ: Reconnection to the Central Asian Power System Project

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 35.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth
• Regional integration

Drivers of Change

• Governance and capacity development

Sector / Subsector

• Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution

Gender

No gender elements

Description

In April 2018, Tajikistan started to export power to Uzbekistan on an islanded mode. However, in order to synchronize the systems and achieve power trade target, the relay protection system in Tajikistan has to be modernized and new interconnection points established. The project will: (i) install modern relays, circuit breakers, instrumental transformers and ancillary equipment and systems at eight 220kV and two 500kV interconnection points; (ii) establish two new 500kV interconnections; and, (iii) provide capacity building to Barki Tojik staff in reliability of parallel operations.

These solutions will result in the following outcome: regional energy resource utilization among CAPS countries improved.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The Central Asian republics are endowed with significant energy related natural resources, however, the distribution of these is highly skewed. The Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan have abundant hydro resources, while in contrast Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are rich with fossil fuels. During the Soviet Union era these resources were managed at the regional level. Energy systems were designed to take into account the location of various energy sources and needs of entire region. The hydropower resources in Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan were operated primarily as an irrigation systems with power generation being secondary. Energy and water infrastructure, inherited by these countries, implicitly contemplated energy and water transfer across administrative boundaries that later have become national borders.

However, the obsolete infrastructure systems in Tajikistan left from the former Soviet Union era that has neither been properly maintained nor replaced, especially during the civil war. This significantly deteriorated the reliability of the protection systems, which is one of the key elements for the parallel operation of the power systems. For the lack of sufficient infrastructure, the Tajikistan system has not been reconnected to the Central Asia Power System (CAPS) since its disconnection in 2009.

In 2017, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan started working together to interconnect the electricity systems. In early 2018, the governments of both countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding according to which Tajikistan will start to exports summer surplus power to Uzbekistan. Initially, vertically integrated state power utility JSC Barki Tojik will start exporting 1.5 TWh on islanded mode in Uzbekistan (asynchronous operation) and after achieving full parallel operation, the export volume will increase to 5 TWh. This project will provide the infrastructure necessary for achieving full parallel operation of the two systems.

Impact

Regional energy trade expanded

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Regional energy efficiency among CAPS countries improved.

Progress Toward Outcome

IFBs for EPC contracts for relay protection and emergency control systems issued in June 2020, with bids due in August 2020.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan electricity grids synchronized

Interconnection between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan expanded

Capacity in Tajikistan for stable parallel operation improved

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Target deferred to 2022. IFB for EPC contract issued in June 2020, and bids opened in Sep. Contract signing in Q4 2020, and commissioning in Q3 2022.

The EPC contractor will train the PMU, in coordination with the PIC.

Target deferred to 2022. IFB for EPC contract issued in June 2020, with bids opened in Sep. Contract signing will be in Q4 2020, and commissioning in Q3 2022.

Target deferred to 2022. IFB for EPC contract issued in June 2020, with bid opened in Aug. Contract signing will be in Q4 2020, and commissioning in Q3 2022.

Geographical Location

Nation-wide

Safeguard Categories

Environment

B

Involuntary Resettlement

B

Indigenous Peoples

C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

During Project Implementation

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

A project implementation consulting firm was recruited with an estimated 214 person-months of inputs using quality-and-cost-based selection method (standard quality:cost ratio of 90:10) with international advertising.

Procurement

An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract will be procured for the relay protection system following ADB's open competitive bidding, single-stage: two-envelope bidding procedure, with international advertising. Another EPC contract for the emergency control system will be procured by direct contracting to DS Group in Kazakhstan.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Qubodbekov, Daler

Responsible ADB Department

Sectors Group

Responsible ADB Division

Energy Sector Office (SG-ENE)

Executing Agencies

Open Stock Holding Company "Barqi Tojik"

Timetable

Concept Clearance

26 Jul 2018

Fact Finding

05 Jun 2018 to 13 Jun 2018

MRM

30 Aug 2018

Approval

12 Nov 2018

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

30 Sep 2020

Funding

Grant 0622-TAJ