Tajikistan seeks energy support from Turkmenistan

TAJIKISTAN — Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon opted out of a summit of CIS heads of state in Chisinau, Moldova to visit Turkmenistan on Oct. 9 and 10. This is the first time Dushanbe has taken such a step.

Observers suggest that this is because the development of bilateral relations with Turkmenistan is currently of greater importance to Dushanbe. With winter approaching, Rakhmon wanted to gain energy support from Turkmenistan, which it apparently achieved, with a bilateral agreement on energy cooperation concluded on Oct. 9.

Turkmenistan is currently the largest supplier of electricity in Central Asia. Existing power line infrastructure enables Ashgabat to export electricity to Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries.

The Tajik government has said it is willing to increase supplies of aluminium roll and agro-industrial products to Turkmenistan and develop cooperation in the processing of marble, granite and other construction materials.

During Rakhmon’s visit, two agreements were also signed by the Foreign Ministries to set up an intergovernmental committee on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, and establish cooperation in sports and recreation.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov recently suggested that countries in the lowlands can reimburse Tajikistan for water that originates on its territory, indicating that Ashgabat is ready for closer cooperation with Dushanbe,” political analyst Rustam Samiyev said.