On October 21, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement (G/A) with the Government of Tajikistan in the capital, Dushanbe, for "The Project for the Construction of the Substation for the Bulk Power System in Dushanbe City." The agreement was signed by Tajikistan's Minister of Finance and the Chief Representative of the JICA Tajikistan Office.
The project will build a new 220 kV transmission substation in Dushanbe, improving the power distribution system and contributing to a stable electricity supply for the capital region. In addition to equipment such as main transformers, gas circuit breakers, transmission lines, control panels, protective relays and communication devices, the project covers detailed design as well as supervision of construction and procurement. The grant limit is 3.296 billion yen, and the planned duration is 41 months, including detailed design and tendering.
The project is also positioned as a pilot for examining the conditions, using digital transformation (DX) technology, for unmanned substation operation, which is under consideration in Tajikistan. It is in line with the "Green and Resilience" priority set out in the Tokyo Declaration, the joint leaders' declaration of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue. A separate grant agreement for the detailed design, with a limit of 41 million yen, was already signed in December 2025.
Key points
- A new 220 kV transmission substation in Dushanbe will support a stable power supply for the capital
- It also serves as a pilot for preparing unmanned substation operation using DX technology
- With a grant limit of 3.296 billion yen, this is the main construction phase following the detailed design agreement of December 2025
Why This News Matters
A reliable supply of electricity underpins not only household life but also hospitals, schools and workplaces. By strengthening the capital's power grid, this project can be said to support people's everyday lives from the ground up.
Another notable feature is that the project looks beyond building facilities to the use of digital technology for unmanned operation. It also offers a clue to how cooperation between Central Asia and Japan may grow in the years ahead.
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“What caught my eye was that the new substation also serves as a pilot for DX technology aimed at unmanned operation. I find it interesting that the project looks beyond building facilities to how they will be run in the future.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“Like Aoba, I think that focus on how the facility will be run is so important. If electricity reaches the capital reliably, the lights in hospitals and schools are less likely to go out. This is cooperation tied directly to peace of mind in daily life.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading and verification
“Listening to you both, I felt that electricity is hard to see, yet it is the foundation of every day. Seeing a Central Asian country and Japanese technology come together like this could help a faraway country feel a little closer to home.”
Editor-in-Chief’s comment
Ren DateEditor-in-Chief
“A substation may feel a little remote from daily life, but it is an essential facility that makes the simple act of flipping a switch and turning on the lights possible.
If you are interested in cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, please take a look at JICA's announcement as well.”