Uzbekistan To Partake In Construction Of 2 Hydroelectric Plants In Tajikistan - President

Uzbekistan will take part in the construction of two hydroelectric plants in Tajikistan with a power generation capacity of 320 megawatts, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday after holding talks with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon.

TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2018) Uzbekistan will take part in the construction of two hydroelectric plants in Tajikistan with a power generation capacity of 320 megawatts, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Friday after holding talks with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon.

The use of water and energy resources is one of the key disputes in Central Asia due to their shortage.

"Today we are ready to announce joint construction of two hydroelectric plants with the overall capacity of 320 megawatts on the Zarafshan River in Tajikistan," Mirziyoyev said after the negotiations with Rahmon.

The Uzbek leader also pointed out that the parties had discussed the use of fresh water of the Sarez Lake.

"I think that the project of the hydrotechnical construction will be a very serious issue within our regional cooperation," Mirziyoyev said.

Rahmon echoed his Uzbek counterpart saying that the parties had discussed the use of 17 billion cubic meters of fresh water.

"I have many times said and will say once again that we will never leave our neighbors without water," Rahmon said.

Rahmon started on Friday his two-day state visit to neighboring Uzbekistan, during which 23 documents are planned to be signed.

The Sarez Lake is located in Rushon District of Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan province. The lake emerged in 1911 after an over 7-magnitude earthquake caused a landslide, blocking the Murghab River and resulting in landslide dam, known as Usoi Dam. Scientists fear that possible collapse of the Usoi Dam may result in a devastating flood.