Objective of the project is to improve the capacity of the natural resources potential through development of the renewable energy, providing access of the rural population living in remote villages of the republic to the energy power.

Participants of the project:

There are 15 countries, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are participating in the current project. Tajikistan joined to the programme in 2005. The project is being implemented through 3 phases:

Phase

• Capacity building in PREGA projects preparation;
• Identification of opportunities for development of the PREGA projects;
• Technical, finance, economic and ecologic projects assessment and meeting of requirements of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) instrument;
• Study of barriers and policy assessment.

Phase 2

• Preparation of CDM projects;
• Selection of one pilot projects.

Phase 3

• Realization of the pilot project.

Within the project Coordinative Body (Ministry of agriculture and nature protection) was identified, experts in the field of energy, ecology and economy were involved, workshop introducing the project was arranged, three projects on small hydropower stations in mountainous regions were proposed.

Expected outcomes:

• Improvement of policy and overcoming the barriers when using renewable energy sources;
• Improvement of energy supply and efficiency;
• Access of the poorest and remote population of the republic to energy;
• Analysis of risks and lessons learned from renewable energy sources use;
• Exchange of knowledge and experience, arrangement of the educational training, particularly, at the local level;
• Implementation of the pilot project.