Thousands of micro hydropower plants in Uzbekistan threaten the biodiversity of rivers and canals
The recent decree of the President of Uzbekistan on measures to develop a network of microhydroelectric power plants (MICROHPPS) opens the way to the construction of almost three thousand small HPPs with a total capacity of 164 MW in the next two years. However, these large-scale plans, presented as a step towards providing the population with electricity and creating jobs, cause serious concerns among environmentalists. There is a real threat that the pursuit of “green” energy will result in irreversible damage to the country’s unique aquatic ecosystems, and environmental risks are underestimated or ignored.
At first glance, the intention to place most of the planned microelectric power plants on already existing artificial canals seems less destructive to nature than construction on natural rivers. But the hydrological situation in Uzbekistan is extremely specific and requires special attention. Over the decades of intensive development of water resources for irrigation and hydropower, the country’s natural river systems have undergone catastrophic changes. Paradoxically, many artificial canals have become a kind of refugium for rare and endemic fish species displaced from their original river habitats. As an example, the endemic species Dzihunia pseudoamudarjensis can be cited – this char, described in 2024, was found only in the South Ferghana Canal.
Of particular concern is also the fact that about a hundred planned micro-hydroelectric power stations are supposed to be built on sections of natural rivers, without any assessment of the impact on their biota and ecosystem functions. Many of these river ecosystems are priceless islands of wildlife, where unique populations of rare and vulnerable species, including endemic fish, ideally adapted to the conditions of these particular watercourses, have been preserved. Further fragmentation by dams will lead to their complete degradation.
Yevgeny Simonov, International coordinator of the Rivers Without Borders Environmental Coalition, notes that Uzbekistan’s desire to develop renewable energy is understandable and commendable in itself. However, he warns that this goal should not be achieved at the cost of destroying unique biodiversity, especially in conditions of water scarcity. Simonov points out that most of the river ecosystems on the plains have already been seriously affected by irrigation in the last century. Now, according to him, all the remaining rivers are threatened with fragmentation due to the massive construction of hydroelectric power stations, which will bring only a modest increase in capacity. He emphasizes that the new plan involves not only the construction of more than a hundred dams on natural rivers, but also thousands of microelectric power stations on artificial canals, which can also destroy the habitats of rare and endemic fish species that have found their last refuge there.
For example, last year, in order to create three mini-hydroelectric power stations, the Ugam River, a unique mountain watercourse inhabited by at least four rare endemic fish species, including the Chatkal stonefish, was dug up and dammed. Now the prospect of survival of these species in Ugama is in question, and any migrations are blocked by a dam.
The construction of even small hydraulic structures on natural rivers and critical sections of canals will inevitably lead to fragmentation of waterways, disruption of the natural hydrological regime and degradation of habitats. The consequences can be catastrophic, up to the complete disappearance of unique populations of fish and other aquatic organisms, which will be an irreparable loss for the biodiversity of not only Uzbekistan, but the entire region.
Ramil Akhmetov (Ecozor)
