Page 523 – The Times Of Central Asia

25 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, International Affairs, Local Politics, Business & Economy

ADB Finances Road Reconstruction in Tajikistan

October 25, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $86.67 million grant to help Tajikistan expand its degraded two-lane 49-km Dangara–Guliston highway to four lanes.

Commenting on the move, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov said: “ADB, in partnership with other organizations, promotes safe, accessible, and green transport infrastructure and services in our developing member countries. The Dangara–Guliston road, constructed in the 1930s and reconstructed in the 1970s, will become the first road in Tajikistan to incorporate climate adaptation and elements specific to women’s needs.”

The project will fund two pilot charging stations and develop investment frameworks to catalyze private sector investment in Tajikistan’s national charging infrastructure rollout. Safety is a high priority and to this end, the newly reconstructed road will include dedicated cycleways, wide sidewalks for people with children and disabilities, improved lighting and well-marked pedestrian crossings. Special toilets and changing facilities will be provided for mothers and babies, while public transport facilities will include preferential seating for people with disabilities.

In addition to the above, the fund will incorporate training programs for women living in and around the project area to open and run small businesses, and award entrepreneurship grants to selected participants.

The Tajikistan government has pledged $23 million towards the realization of the project whilst subject to its Board’s approval in early 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD, will provide a $40 million co-financing loan.

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport plans to complete the project in 2030.

24 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Local Politics, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Afghanistan to Boost Oil Production in the Amu Darya Basin

October 24, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

Afghanistan plans to launch 25 new oil wells in the Amu Darya basin, increasing daily oil production to 3,000 tons.

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, shared that there are currently 24 active wells in this field, from which 1,300 tons of oil are extracted daily. According to Fitrat: “The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum plans to activate 25 more wells by the end of this year, of which 18 will be newly drilled, two will be exploratory wells, and five will be rehabilitated.”

Economic experts stress that officials should carefully plan new well drilling and attract investors to process the extracted oil.

Economic expert Abdul Zahoor Madaber stated that Afghanistan has abundant natural resources but lacks modern machinery to process them, and cooperation with other countries is needed to import this equipment.

Mohammad Asif Stanekzai, another economic expert, added: “The production and processing of natural resources can create job opportunities and have a positive impact on reducing inflation in Afghanistan.”

According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, only 10% of Afghanistan’s oil needs are currently met from domestic production.

The Amu Darya is a vital river for Central Asian countries. While 72-73% of its water originates in Tajikistan, the majority is used by neighboring countries.

In April of this year, the countries of Central Asia distributed Amu Darya and Syrdarya water for the summer of 2024. Under the agreed quota, the draw on water from the Amu Darya watershed will be 56 billion cubic meters for the year, with about 40 billion cubic meters used in the April-to-October growing season. As stated in the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) agreement, Uzbekistan will receive 16 billion cubic meters, Turkmenistan will receive 15.5 billion cubic meters, and Tajikistan will receive 6.9 billion cubic meters.

The ICWC claims that the total number of irrigated lands in Central Asian countries is 4.3 million hectares in Uzbekistan, 2.5 million hectares in Kazakhstan, 1.9 million hectares in Turkmenistan, 1 million hectares in Kyrgyzstan, and 680,000 hectares in Tajikistan.

24 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan Local Politics, International Affairs, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features, Tajikistan Environment

Rogun HPP Faces Criticism for Violating World Bank Standards

October 24, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

The international environmental coalition Rivers without Boundaries has released a report titled “Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant Project: Non-Compliance Report with World Bank Requirements.”

Outlining how the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan fails to meet the World Bank’s environmental and social standards, the report highlights violations in six key areas: environmental assessment, biodiversity protection, resource efficiency, dam safety, public participation, and forced displacement. It also highlights non-compliance with the bank’s policies on financing investment projects.

The report’s authors point out that the situation worsened as a result of the World Bank taking responsibility for developing environmental and social safeguards for the Rogun HPP project on behalf of all financiers, including major banks like the AIIB, ADB, and EIB. In accepting this move, these institutions have effectively treated the World Bank’s standards as their own. Therefore, if these standards are violated, the standards of other financial institutions are also breached.

“We are convinced that the presented version of the Rogun HPP project does not comply with the social and environmental principles of the World Bank and should not be financed by international development banks in its current form,” said Evgeny Simonov, coordinator of the international environmental coalition ‘Rivers Without Borders.’ “Due to non-compliance with banking standards and procedures, the project includes many ineffective and risky elements that could lead to serious environmental and social damage during its implementation.”

The report was created under the international Rogun Alert initiative, which represents environmental organizations worldwide. Last week, it was sent to all international development banks involved in the Rogun project. On October 23, an open letter signed by 124 public organizations, including Rivers Without Borders, highlighting the risks of financing large dam projects, including Rogun, will be presented to the World Bank management.

According to the source, urgent international public consultations on the environmental and social impact of the construction of the Rogun HPP on the basin countries are planned for October 28 of this year.

24 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyz Blogger Jailed for Inciting Ethnic Hatred

October 24, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

A video blogger from the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan has been sentenced to two years in prison for inciting ethnic hatred and propaganda related to the war in the Middle East after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict of a lower court. According to information provided by Turmush, the blogger’s name was not disclosed. The charges were brought under Part 1, Article 330 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan.

The man ran a video channel with an audience of about 400,000 subscribers, where he posted religious instructions and supported the Yakyn Inkar organization, which is banned in the country. In addition, his channel published materials stoking hatred in the Middle East. In particular, on November 1, 2023, he posted an interview with the head of a political party of the Jogorku Kenesh, who made statements calling for violence and the destruction of a specific nationality. The case was classified by the National Security Committee.

The detention of the blogger took place on November 25, 2023, and the trial took place on March 27, 2024, in the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek. The defense argued that the materials published did not violate the law, but the Supreme Court left the regional court’s decision unchanged. Based on the conclusions of experts and reports from staff of the 4th Main Department of the SCNS, the court ruled that the blogger’s publications provoked an increase in harmful and radical comments.

There have been several cases in Kyrgyzstan involving charges of inciting ethnic and religious hatred. In August 2023, blogger Aizhan Myrsan was fined for posting what the court deemed to be incitement to ethnic hatred. Her lawyers insisted that the video had been taken out of context and edited, but the court upheld the decision.

Another famous case is that of Omurbek Babanov, a politician who was accused of inciting ethnic hatred after a speech he delivered in 2017. His remarks at a meeting with voters became the subject of court proceedings, where experts interpreted them as potential calls for violence.

24 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan to Introduce New Measures to Curb Noise Levels

October 24, 2024
By Anton Chipegin

During a parliamentary session, deputies determined that the Interior Ministry should be authorized to collect fines for excessive noise.

According to the republic’s law, fines for exceeding acceptable levels of noise were previously issued by the Department of Health Prevention. However, according to the deputies, the department was not properly equipped to measure levels of noise on the streets or on premises. In addition, the department’s employees do not work at night, when violations are most likely to occur.

“Individuals believe their rights should not be violated if they want to invite a noisy company home to an apartment building at night, put on music, start construction or repair work, or watch television at a volume that exceeds the maximum permissible noise levels. Entertainment or construction work in one apartment can become a nightmare or sleepless nights for many living there. But complaints to the police due to the lack of the necessary law have no proper effect,” said the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry.

According to the civil code of offenses, loud noise is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and to 9 a.m. on non-working days and holidays. The only exception is during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Violation of the rules in settlements or public places is punishable by a fine of 10 thousand KGS ($120) for individuals and 28 thousand KGS ($330) for legal entities.

24 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, International Affairs, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Daewoo To Invest $730 Million in Turkmenistan

October 24, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

South Korean company Daewoo Engineering & Construction has won a tender to build a fertilizer plant in Turkmenistan. The project is estimated to cost a trillion won (about $730 million).

According to the company, the new plant will be located in Turkmenabat, 450 km east of Ashgabat. It will have an annual capacity of 350,000 tons of phosphate fertilizer and 100,000 tons of ammonium sulfate, and will include additional auxiliary facilities. After the completion of the main contract, final data on the contract’s value and implementation terms will be published.

The company has stated that implementing the project will allow Daewoo E&C to strengthen its presence in Central Asia and expand its activities in the petrochemical and agricultural sectors, infrastructure, and urban projects. In the future, the company intends to offer environmentally friendly technological solutions to further cooperate with Turkmenistan.

Daewoo E&C noted that winning the tender was possible thanks to the support of the South Korean government, including during the official visit of President Yun Seok Yeol to Turkmenistan in June. The company’s Chairman, Jeong Won-ju, also met with the Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in November 2022 during his visit to South Korea. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding, cementing an agreement on close cooperation. Jeong Won-ju has visited Turkmenistan three times since then, which helped strengthen ties and successfully conclude negotiations.

Daewoo E&C is aiming to become a leader in the global EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) market. “We strive to participate in projects that contribute to a sustainable future,” a company representative stated.

Turkmenistan is implementing several major projects with the participation of South Korean companies. Hyundai Engineering has agreed with state-owned Turkmengas to expand the Galkynysh gas field. This project includes the construction of a fourth gas desulfurization facility, making it the largest in the country’s history. Korean companies have also been actively constructing and developing an oil refinery in Kiyanly. Projects to create “smart cities” are also being discussed.