The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $21 million grant to expand renewable energy in Tajikistan by modernizing the Golovnaya hydropower plant.

“The electricity from the Golovnaya hydropower plant goes to national and regional grids, benefiting Tajikistan and neighboring countries,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “ADB’s support improves regional energy security, contributing to inclusive, sustainable economic growth and balanced regional development.”

The funding will be used to replace the power generation unit 4 at the Golovnaya plant, which ceased operations in 2019 due to mechanical damage. This unit was not included in the original ADB project approved in 2013.

The initial project provided a $136 million grant to replace five of the plant’s six power generation units. It also involved rehabilitating switchyards, modernizing the Vose substation, and constructing the Rudaki substation along with a transmission line connecting Rudaki and Vose in southern Tajikistan.

With these upgrades, the installed capacity of Golovnaya hydropower plant is expected to rise from 240MW to 274MW by 2026.

Since joining ADB in 1998, Tajikistan has received over $2.6 billion in assistance, including more than $2 billion in grants. ADB’s support has spanned various sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, and public sector management.

ADB, established in 1966, aims to promote prosperity, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability in Asia and the Pacific, working to eradicate extreme poverty. It is owned by 68 members, with 49 from the region.