Representatives of Turkmenistan, together with colleagues from Uzbekistan and experts from the European Union, took part in the fourth meeting of the Technical Working Group on the implementation of the transboundary demonstration project at the Tuyamuyun hydroelectric complex.

The online meeting was organized within the framework of the European Union project “Central Asian Dialogue to stimulate intersectoral financing based on the “water-energy-food” interconnection (Phase II)” (Nexus Dialogue Project in CA).

The event also brought together the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC), the Tuyamuyun hydroelectric complex, national coordinators and international technical experts.

The participants presented the results of studies of the Run-of-river reservoir of the Tuyamuyun hydroelectric complex, in particular, they shared forecasts for the growth of silting of the reservoir and methods for the practical use of silt.

The Tuyamuyun hydroelectric complex was proposed by the State Committee for Water Resources of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a demonstration project aimed at solving the most urgent problem in Central Asia - intensive silting of reservoirs. Silting limits the technical ability to accumulate, store and regulate water, which is necessary for all water users in the territories of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan supported by TMGU. The project is focused on mitigating the silting problem of the Run-of-the-Union Reservoir in order to find modern and sustainable technical solutions acceptable to both countries.

The project is to demonstrate how the Nexus Water-Energy-Food (WEF) approach will facilitate cross-sectoral economic development planning to ensure long-term sustainability of ecosystems.

The implementation of the Tuyamuyun Hydroelectric Project began in January 2021 and will last until December 2022 with the support of the European Union's Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia project and the Central Asia Innovative Solutions Laboratory for the Water Sector project. It includes conducting a comprehensive assessment and analysis of territories, measuring work on the volume of silting, attracting international experience in cleaning up silting, and, finally, preparing an investment proposal for TMGU. In particular, it is planned to work with the global network of finance experts at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the partnership on renewable energy and energy efficiency.