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Uzbekistan welcomes law on inadmissibility of construction of large HPPs adopted in U.S.

Uzbekistan Materials 30 January 2014 17:50 (UTC +04:00)
Uzbekistan welcomes the law on inadmissibility of construction of large dams and HPPs adopted in the U.S.
Uzbekistan welcomes law on inadmissibility of construction of large HPPs adopted in U.S.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jan.30

By Demir Azizov- Trend:

Uzbekistan welcomes the law on inadmissibility of construction of large dams and HPPs adopted in the U.S., Director of Uzbek Hydroproject Institute Sergei Zhigarev told journalists on Jan.30.

The director said that the law was adopted by the Congress and Senate of the U.S. in January 2014 and was approved by President Obama.

The new law directly obliges the U.S. representatives in the boards of directors of international financial institutions to oppose the approval of any loan or document aimed at supporting such projects, according to Zhigarev.

Today the U.S. is the largest shareholder and a donor to major international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, International Development Association, Asian Development Bank, Asian Development Fund and other similar financial institutions.

The law adopted in the U.S which uniquely expresses the principal position of this country's parliament and government on the issue, once again shows that the international community has tremendous awareness of the nature of the threat posed by the construction of giant dams and hydroelectric power plants, Zhigarev said.

"This decision should have a sobering effect on those who are persistently pushing and lobbying for the construction of large dams and hydropower plants in Central Asia", the director said.

The issue of inadmissibility of construction of large dams and hydropower facilities is especially topical for the Central Asian region, as persistent attempts are made in recent times to revive the projects planned during the Soviet-era envisaging the construction of giant HPPs, including Rogun HPP and Kambarat HPP-1 on the trans-boundary rivers of the region, such as Amudarya, Sirdarya and on their flows.

"The adopted decision provides a new opportunity to focus on alternatives to solve the existing problems of energy shortage, which do not violate environmental regulations, do not cause the risks of man-made disasters, and do not contradict with the norms of international law defined by the United Nations, "Zhigarev said.

Translated by L.Z.

Edited by C.N.

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