4 November 2010
In late May, nearly 100 representatives of civil society, government, and private sector companies consulted on the World Bank's Energy Strategy. The meeting, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan and videoconferenced to three other countries in the region, focused on hydropower, governance, and extractives.
This week dozens of CSO representatives from Central Asian countries, along with government officials and technical experts, joined a World Bank-hosted videoconference to shape the energy strategy for the region.
Energy governance is a critical issue in this region. Countries reliant upon hydropower, such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have massive energy shortages during the winter that tax the resources of neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. International financial institutions (IFIs) are funding a variety of energy projects to address energy shortages and facilitate energy sharing; and Central Asian CSOs are eager to ensure these projects are relevant, transparent, and promote good governance. During the consultation, four main themes emerged from CSOs:
1) Energy governance in the region needs to be improved, with target issues ranging from predictability of regulation and tariffs to transparency of project documents, including those between governments and contractors;
2) Energy efficiency, both on the supply side and in private homes, needs to be improved, as infrastructure and technology is outdated and results in major losses of energy;
3) Type and manner of energy projects funded by IFIs need to be reconsidered; small, less expensive, immediate projects may be capable of helping the poor more than large, expensive, long-term projects. CSOs also spoke about the potential dangers of privatization and the need to increase funding for renewable energy, as well as improvement of social and environmental safeguards;
4) More information is needed about two large proposed World Bank energy projects; the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan, and the CASAREM energy-sharing project that will impact multiple countries in the region. CSOs want information about impact assessments, project timelines, and public consultations.
The feedback of CSOs is the key to ensuring that the shortcomings of the past are improved and the production and distribution of energy is efficient in the future. BIC’s partners will continue to communicate with the World Bank about energy policy implementation.
read more
BIC's Energy Strategy review page
Best Practices for World Bank Energy Investments in Central Asia, Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010 (PPT, 862 KB)
Лучшие практики для инвестиций Всемирного банка в энергетический сектор Центральной Азии-ppt.
Best Practices for World Bank Energy Investments in Central Asia (Report), Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010
Micro Energy Case Study: Animal Husbandry, Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010
Micro Energy Case Study: Tajikistan (Russian language), Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010
Micro Energy Case Study: Kazakhstan Agricultural Application, Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010
Micro Energy Case Study: Kyrgyzstan (Russian language), Bank Information Center, May 24, 2010