As part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, the Sebzor hydropower plant has been inaugurated in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). The facility is expected to provide reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity to more than 430,000 people in rural areas of Tajikistan and northern Afghanistan.

The project aims to reduce electricity interruptions caused by natural disasters, support local employment, and generate income for surrounding communities. The inauguration ceremony was led by the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and attended by international development partners.

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “The Sebzor hydropower plant, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy, is a great illustration of how a sustainable infrastructure project transforms a whole region. It strengthens energy security, unlocks opportunities for local communities and businesses, promotes economic growth, and protects people’s health and the environment. I was privileged to visit Tajikistan this year and could see the potential for our deeper partnership, bringing added value, win-win solutions and building stronger connections between both regions.”

Located at an altitude of over 2,500m  in Roshtqala District, the Sebzor hydropower plant is a run-of-river facility with an installed capacity of 11MW. It can produce over 76 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually and is expected to prevent more than 45,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year. The plant is grid-synchronized to improve electricity reliability in the region and support power exports to northern Afghanistan.

The Sebzor project is part of the EU’s Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate Change. Tajikistan, while rich in water resources, faces challenges in managing them amid growing climate-related risks. The project aligns with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and is the first in the world to be certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.

As part of the broader project, a new secondary school for 240 students was inaugurated in the Barjangal settlement. A Livelihood Restoration Program is also included, supporting entrepreneurship, community infrastructure, and education as part of the project’s Resettlement Action Plan.

Sebzor was jointly financed under the Team Europe approach by the German government and the European Union through the KfW Development Bank. It was implemented by Pamir Energy.

In addition to the Sebzor plant, two key rural electrification projects were launched:

  • The commissioning of the 110/35/10 kV Jangal Substation in Rushan District and a 53 km double circuit transmission line between Khorog and Vomar.
  • The ground-breaking of the 110/35 kV Qozideh Substation in Ishkashim District and a 42 km double circuit line between Vomar and Voznavd in Rushan District.

These projects are expected to deliver electricity to approximately 300,000 people, as well as local public services and businesses, while reducing costs. They are funded by the EU and German government through KfW and the PATRIP Foundation, channeled via the Aga Khan Foundation (UK), and implemented by Pamir Energy Company.

The Global Gateway strategy is the EU’s investment initiative to promote clean, smart, and secure infrastructure in energy, transport, digital, health, and education sectors worldwide. The strategy aims to mobilize up to €300 billion in public and private investment by 2027.