EBRD Backs Green Transport Upgrade in Tajikistan’s Bokhtar

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up support for Tajikistan’s shift toward greener and more sustainable transport by providing a 10 million-euro-financing package to modernize public transport in Bokhtar, the administrative center of the Khatlon region.

The package includes a 6.4 million-euro-sovereign loan from the EBRD and a 3.6 million-euro-investment grant from the bank, The Caspian Post reports via EBRD.

The funding will allow the municipal enterprise Bokhtarnakliyotkhimatrason to purchase 50 modern electric buses adapted for people with disabilities, along with the installation of the required charging infrastructure. The project is also backed by more than 600,000 euros in technical cooperation funds.

The initiative supports Tajikistan’s electric transport development program for 2023-2028 and aligns with the country’s green economy strategy for 2023-2037. By introducing electric buses, Bokhtar will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality, and provide cleaner, more efficient transport services for residents of the city and surrounding areas.

Beyond environmental benefits, the project is expected to create new jobs and includes a training program for staff responsible for operating and maintaining electric buses.

The EBRD has been cooperating with the city of Bokhtar on transport projects since 2018, including the construction of a bus depot and the purchase of 41 low-floor buses. Overall, the bank has invested more than 1 billion euros in Tajikistan through 190 projects, while also supporting the development of renewable energy and logistics infrastructure across the wider Central Asian region, including Kazakhstan.