Visiting Professor Rethinks Energy Security in Tajikistan

Last week, ACEP and the UAF Department of Anthropology hosted Murodbek Laldjebaev, an assistant professor of the University of Central Asia in Khorog, Tajikistan.

As part of this visit, he gave a presentation titled "Rethinking Energy Security and Three Energy Pathways in Tajikistan."

In his talk, he presented the results of research that will help answer questions about availability, accessibility, sustainability and other dimensions of energy security for Tajikistan.

His talk conceptualized energy security as low vulnerability of vital energy systems and sustained provision of modern energy services. Laldjebaev highlighted key vulnerabilities, including neglect of environmental conditions, insufficient energy production capacity, unreliable and expensive energy imports, dwindling power infrastructure causing technical and economic losses, inadequate transparency in the power sector, lack of regional cooperation in energy and water resources sharing, and inadequate financial resources to address these challenges. He presented three major proposals by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the Government of Tajikistan to achieve energy security in Tajikistan and evaluated them. He pointed out a lack of focus on energy services and, consequently, the overlooking of people's sociocultural context and appropriate energy needs.

 

Murodbek Laldjebaev presents to ACEP in the BP Design Theater. Photo by Tonya Evans.