Geothermal Resources of Tajikistan

Abstract

Through the efforts of scientists from different countries in the last century, extensive geological, hydrological, geophysical and geochemical studies were carried out in Tajikistan. As a result of numerous scientific expeditions, maps of geothermal fields were compiled, which today form the basis of scientific research in this area. Of the 28 largest thermal springs, 8 are located in Central Tajikistan, and 20 in the high-mountainous Pamirs. The total resource of the geothermal sources identified to date is 151 million kWh per year, which corresponds to a capacity of 17.2 MW. Based on some of these sources (Khoja Obi Garm (98oC), Dzhilandy (67.5oC), Garmchashma (60oC), Khovatag (55oC), Obi Garm (53oC), Yamchun (43oC), Yavroz (42oC), Avdzh (34oC)) centers of health, recreation, balneology and tourism are organized. As a rule, mud baths work with them. The rest of the sources are used to heat the homes of local residents and greenhouses. Note that deep geothermal springs (more than 200 m deep) have much higher energy and can be used as sources of electricity. Unfortunately, at the moment, the country lacks a developed base of deep well drilling technologies.