DUSHANBE, 09.12.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – To honor the good memory of the late Stephan Kohler, head of the German Energy Agency (DENA), on the eve of his 70th birthday, the book “From Vision to Reality” dedicated to his fruitful work was published, reports the Embassy of Tajikistan in Germany..

This book contains 24 articles by people who cooperated closely with Stephan Kohler on denuclearization, energy transition, transnational cooperation, activities of the German Energy Agency, energy and economic policy, climate change mitigation, the dominance of renewable energy and etc.

The authors of the articles are German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, former Federal Vice Chancellor, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy and Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, the first President of the German Federal Railway (Deutsche Bundesbahn) Heinz Dürr, co-founder of the German environmental organization “Greenpeace” Monika Griffin, politician Alfred Take, senior professor of sustainable development studies at the University of Lüneburg Leupana Gerd Michelsen, former chairman of the supervisory board of the power plant operator “STEAG”, as well as Tajik Ambassador to Germany Imomudin Sattorov and others.

In order to fully present the hydropower potential of Tajikistan, the country’s global initiatives in the field of water resources, the introduction of green energy and the invitation of German circles to mutually beneficial cooperation in this direction, an article by the Ambassador of Tajikistan entitled «Energy potential of Tajikistan and prospects for the development of further cooperation» was published in this book.

The article consists of five parts:

Hydropower is the central source of water;

NGO «Rogun»;

Solar and wind energy capacities;

Integration processes in Central Asia;

Cooperation between Tajikistan and Germany.

The article stresses that providing the country’s population with green energy is a priority of the policy of the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon. From the UN high rostrum, the Head of State stressed that «the construction of power plants and power lines contributes to sustainable development and an increase in the standard of living not only of the people of Tajikistan but of the entire region.»

Referring to the significant contribution of Stephan Kohler to the promotion of cooperation with Tajikistan, including his fruitful negotiations with the President of the country, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, during the visit to hydropower facilities, the Tajik diplomat underlined the following:

When we talk about the Rogun HPP, we remember the smiling and honest face of our mutual friend Stephan Kohler, the former head of the German Energy Agency (DENA). Stephan Kohler was one of the strongest supporters of the construction of this energy facility, which is considered important for Tajikistan and the Central Asian region. After visiting the Norak and Rogun HPPs, he stressed: “After visiting the Norak HPP, I was once again convinced that the construction of the Rogun HPP is of great importance today, and in the future, I will invite German companies to participate in the implementation of this project. Thus, the effective actions of the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, on the construction of a large hydropower facility — Rogun, are worthy of praise. From now on, the people of Tajikistan can consider me the energy Ambassador of their state in Germany.”

On September 13, 2013, the German Energy Agency (DENA), in cooperation with BAE Batterien GmbH and DPU Investment GmbH, AEG Power Solutions, and Enerparc und Roth & Rau, installed a solar charger to generate electricity in the building of the former Ministry of Energy and Industry of Tajikistan.

Stephan Kohler had a positive outlook on the future of Rogun and the development of renewable energy in Tajikistan. Today we see how important hydropower is for our country and not only.