Providing solar panels to residents of the Bartang Valley in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region is one of the most effective ways to solve energy problems and improve people’s lives in harsh mountain conditions.
In 2016, the public organisation Little Earth provided solar panels and special cooking equipment to residents of the village of Savnob, one of the most remote areas in the valley. The appliances, called ‘Oftobak’, are used from March to November to heat water, cook food and even bake bread.
According to residents, these solar panels not only help to light the buildings but also enable them to use computers and other equipment in the educational facilities. This equipment is completely environmentally friendly and does not emit harmful gases when generating energy, which is particularly important for environmental protection.
The Bartang Valley is located in one of the most inaccessible and remote areas of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, in Rushan District, at an altitude of 2,200 to 3,500 metres above sea level. It is 180 km from the centre of Rushan district and comprises three villages – Bartang, Basid and Savnab.
According to the district statistical office, the three settlements had 7,088 inhabitants on 1 November 2024. Their main occupation is agriculture and animal husbandry.
It is also one of the most popular places for tourists. In addition to historical monuments and sights, this valley is home to the famous Sarez Lake, which attracts the attention of domestic and foreign tourists every year.
A solar-powered mountain bathhouse
Zulfiya Maskayeva, a resident of the village of Roshorv who makes a living from herding cattle, says solar panels are a valuable gift for the women of the village.
‘The Oftobak, or solar kitchen, is unique. It has no battery and no expensive materials. For us, the women of the village, it is a valuable gift,’ says Zulfiya.
In the past, the lack of electricity forced villagers to use firewood or dung for cooking and boiling water.
A few years ago we had a lot of problems due to the lack of electricity for heating water, cooking and baking. It was difficult for us to get firewood, and smoke, dust and dirt were another problem. Even the smoke from animal dung and wet wood was often harmful to our health and that of our children. Today, this solar system using clean solar energy has solved most of our problems,’ she says.
Zulfiya’s family lives mainly from cattle. Every year, from May to September, to feed their cattle, they travel 120 kilometres from the village to pastures where there is no electricity. In 2020, a French tourist named Clarisse Vogelsperger gave them solar lamps, and since then they have been using them without any problems.
‘Using such modern tools in the mountains and valleys is not only healthy for our family, but also important for the protection of the beautiful nature,’ says Zulfia.
According to Clarisse Vogelsperger herself, a retired French pensioner, she is a member of a small French association called “Panpak, Light in Pamir”.
Panpak is named after a French tourist who first visited Gorno-Badakhshan in 2011.
‘He was my friend. During the trip, Panpak got to know the life of the people, especially the shepherds, and always spoke about the kind attitude of the local people towards him,’ says Clarissa Vogelsperger.
Sadly, Panpak passed away two years ago.
‘We, his friends and family, decided to carry out his plans. He wanted to provide the shepherds of the Bartang valley with solar-powered equipment,’ says Clarisse.
Members of the association bought the equipment, which can last for many years, from several companies in France and presented it to the shepherds of the villages of Roshorv and Bardara.
We would like to work on solving this problem, but it is very difficult to transport equipment from France to Tajikistan. The contribution of the Bartang Valley drivers to our work is huge and we are very grateful to them,’ says Clarisse.
The installation of solar equipment in the village of Nisuri in Savnob Jamoat was carried out several years ago with the support of the NGO Oyandasoz and its development partners.
At the time, electricity and fuel shortages were among the biggest problems in Bartang Valley. Solar kitchens, water heaters and other small solar devices were installed in the village on the initiative of the authorities, which, according to Bartang Valley residents, has significantly reduced the energy problems, and the village has been able to provide electricity and fuel.
According to Khubongul Nosirshoyeva, a resident of Nisur village, the use of a 200-litre solar water heater has not only improved the financial situation of households, but also provided access to a bathhouse for all 48 households in the village, and even for tourists in the summer.
‘It used to be particularly difficult to heat water, especially, women suffered a lot, and you had to use a lot of firewood. Now we can easily heat water with solar energy. This change has not only made our lives easier but also helps to protect the environment,’ added Khubongul.
Nowadays, although the village is supplied with electricity by the small hydropower plant ‘Khatfat’, residents prefer to use solar appliances to save time, family budget and the environment.
The use of such equipment is also important to reduce environmental impact. Khubongul says that as a wife and mother, she encourages every family to take advantage of such opportunities, both for their own benefit and to protect the environment.
Green technologies such as solar appliances can be effective tools to improve people’s livelihoods and protect nature in remote areas. Green energy for educationTobchibek Bekov, principal of School No. 32 in the village of Savnob, believes that green energy is one of the most important tools of our time. According to him, climate change and the depletion of natural resources have increased the need to use alternative energy sources.
Solar panels have been installed in this school to power lighting and computers. This equipment has not only made the school’s work easier but has also reduced costs.
Wood and other natural resources were used to supply and install alternative heating systems. This was time-consuming and led to the destruction of natural resources and soil erosion. Fortunately, with access to solar energy and proper training, the lives of the people in the valley have been transformed,’ he says.
Youth contribution to green energy development: the Bartang Valley experience
Roziq Yaftaliev, one of the young activists in the Bartang Valley, has been instrumental in promoting alternative technologies and sustainable development in the region. A few years ago, together with a group of active young people, he founded the NGO Oyandasoz and, with the support of donor organisations and the district administration, has implemented many important initiatives in Savnob Jamoat.
According to Roziq, one of the main problems in the area was the lack of electricity and fuel.
We have tried to help solve this problem. With the support of the environmental organisation Little Earth and funding from the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature, we have implemented our programmes,’ he says.
Thanks to this initiative, alternative systems such as special greenhouses, water heaters, solar panels, solar kitchens (Oftobak) and energy-efficient stoves have been installed in the area. Buildings have also been insulated to retain heat, and people have been educated about energy-efficient technologies.
New insights into environmental protection
Local residents were shown how green technologies can not only solve their energy problems but also play an important role in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.
Today, the people of the region have realised how much the use of alternative technologies serves their interests. This process has brought about positive changes in their daily lives. On the one hand, the use of such equipment has a positive impact on their family budget, and on the other hand, it helps to protect nature and keep the air clean, as no harmful gases are emitted during the production of solar energy,’ Roziq added.