OSCE provides support to newly-established state body responsible for dam safety management in Tajikistan

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan, jointly with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, organized a half-day roundtable on 4 September 2015 for expert discussions on enhancing technical capacity of the newly-established State Service for Supervision of Hydro Technical Facilities.

The purpose of the event was to discuss the key ideas and best practices in dam safety laws and regulations on national and international levels, thus contributing to the development of a five-year work plan for the State Service.

“This project would enhance the security of the population living in the proximity of hydrological infrastructure, and would also maximise the efficiency of the hydraulic power stations in Tajikistan,” said George Sand, Acting Head of the Economic and Environmental Department. He added that the OSCE Office in Tajikistan plans to support the work of the State Service also in the next year.

The event brought together some 50 participants, including government representatives from the Agency of Irrigation and Land Reclamation; the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy; the State Committee for National Security; the State Committee for Safety in Industry and Mining, the Tajik Hydrometeorology Agency as well as representatives of several hydro power plants including Kairakum, Vakhsh, Sangtuda-1, Sangtuda-2, Nurek, Varzob.

Representatives from Tajik electricity utilities and international organizations also took  part in the event.