Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- “Water costs nothing because it is priceless. It serves the whole world because it is free. Its strength is in its softness, its perfection in its simplicity. It has one name, but many appearances,” said the ancient Roman thinker Pliny.

Centuries later, this saying has not lost its relevance to this day, since the modern world has become much more dependent on water resources, which, in addition to basic agricultural purposes, are used in industry, energy and other sectors, and water has become an important component in maintaining good neighborly relations between countries.

The signing of a strategic document on eternal friendship and alliance between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan could become a starting point for resolving issues that have accumulated over decades, including in the field of joint use of water resources.

“I would like to emphasize again that for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan is the closest, most reliable and time-tested strategic partner. The fraternal Uzbek and Tajik peoples are inextricably linked by strong bonds of centuries-old friendship. We are brought together by common history, cultural and spiritual values, traditions and customs,” said the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the meeting.

And in fact, the current state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev to Dushanbe became a continuation of the constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue between the two fraternal countries.

During the negotiations, priority attention was paid to cooperation in the water and energy sector. The parties confirmed their readiness to continue constructive interaction in the field of joint use of transboundary water resources.

Hydropower has traditionally been the main source of energy in Tajikistan. The country ranks first in the world in terms of specific reserves of hydropower resources per unit of territory and it is quite logical that hydroresources provide more than 95% of Tajikistan’s electricity needs.

However, it is important to note that Tajikistan’s energy sector is susceptible to supply shocks due to seasonal shortages and requires significant investment to further develop it. In this regard, today Tajikistan’s energy policy is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to energy for all users while improving regional cooperation and efficiency of the energy industry. At the same time, the Tajik authorities attach exceptional importance to the development of the country’s hydropower sector.

In this direction, the main driver for the development of Uzbek-Tajik economic cooperation appears to be the hydropower sector. The parties plan to implement projects of two hydropower facilities in Tajikistan with a total capacity of 320 MW - the Yavan hydroelectric power station on the Zarafshan river and the hydroelectric power station on the Fandarya river.

The construction of hydroelectric power stations is planned to be carried out in stages: first, the construction of the Yavan hydroelectric power station with an estimated cost of 282 million dollars, a capacity of 140 MW and the generation of 700-800 million kWh of electricity. At the next stage, the parties will consider the possibility of building a hydroelectric power station on the Fandarya River with an estimated cost of US$270 million, a capacity of 135 MW and the generation of 500-600 million kWh of electricity.

The constructed power plants will generate up to 1,400 million kWh of environmentally friendly electricity exclusively for the needs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Also, the project will help support the peak power of the unified energy system and create additional jobs during the joint construction and operation of hydroelectric power stations, as well as the flow of electricity to other regions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on a parity basis.

This mutually beneficial partnership is a real example of regional integration and will give impetus to the implementation of similar projects in the territory of the Central Asian states.

In addition, the given positive dynamics of Uzbek-Tajik cooperation is becoming an important factor in achieving sustainable development goals, improving the well-being of citizens of the two countries, as well as ensuring stability and security of the entire region.

Chief Researcher at International Institute for Central Asia Valijon Shavkiev