Tajikistan’s Sebzor hydropower project certified against independent sustainability standard

Pamir Energy’s 11 MW Sebzor hydropower project in Tajikistan is the world’s first project to be certified against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, according to the International Hydropower Association.

Tajikistan’s Sebzor hydropower project certified against independent sustainability standard

Pamir Energy’s 11 MW Sebzor hydropower project in Tajikistan is the world’s first project to be certified against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, according to the International Hydropower Association.

The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is the hydropower sector’s independent sustainability certification scheme, which accredits hydropower projects that meet and exceed good practice in a wide range of sustainability topics.

“We are proud to be leading the way in sustainable hydropower development in Tajikistan and beyond. As part of our efforts in continuing to achieve the highest standards of sustainability, we are now already working towards obtaining the Gold certification against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard,” said Amrikhon Raimov, general director of Pamir Energy. “Sebzor is just the beginning of our journey to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy while protecting the environment and supporting the communities we serve.”

The assessment of Sebzor was made possible in part thanks to the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and its Hydropower ESG (HESG) Assessment Fund. Sebzor was one of the first recipients of this fund, which aims to promote sustainable hydropower development by supporting the assessment of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities.

“I cannot commend Pamir Energy enough for the Sebzor Hydropower project becoming the world’s first project certified against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard,” said Ashok Khosla, chair of the Hydropower Sustainability Governance Council. “Their tenacity and dedication to implementing good sustainability practices has paid off. We look forward to seeing their continued leadership in sustainable hydropower development, as they work towards applying the same standards across all their operations.”

This accomplishment was celebrated at an event jointly hosted by the IHA, Itaipu Binacional, the Executive Committee for the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea, the Aga Khan Foundation and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The Sebzor Hydropower Project has previously used the Hydropower Environmental, Social and Governance (HESG) Tool, which informed gaps to help improve the project’s overall sustainability. This assessment was part-financed by the Hydropower ESG (HESG) Assessment fund, an initiative managed by IHA’s Sustainability Team and funded by SECO.

The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is intended to ensure that hydropower takes its place as a key player in the energy transition, providing clean, renewable energy for generations to come. Find out more at

Pamir Energy was established by the Government of Tajikistan in collaboration with the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). AKFED and IFC are the shareholders of the integrated energy utility company, and its inception marked the first public-private partnership (PPP) in central Asia, with the government of Tajikistan transferring the operation and management of energy assets in the region to PE in 2002 while retaining ownership. PE has invested over US$223 million to repair electrical infrastructure, expand hydroelectric capacity and establish a metering system in the region.

IHA is a non-profit membership association that is the voice for sustainable hydropower, and its membership manages and operates around a third of global installed hydropower worldwide. Its sustainability team are the Secretariat of the Hydropower Sustainability Council, who work to tangibly increase the sustainability of the hydropower sector encouraging the uptake of the independent, internationally recognized Hydropower Sustainability Standard.