Electrification of mountainous rural areas and development: A case study of Eastern Pamirs

Sadik-Zada E. R., Gatto A., Sodatshoeva N.

Electricity Journal, vol.36, no.7, 2023 (Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.tej.2023.107307
  • Journal Name: Electricity Journal
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ABI/INFORM, Communication Abstracts, INSPEC, PAIS International, Public Affairs Index
  • Keywords: Eastern Pamirs, Household income, Hydroelectric power, Learning hours, Mountain areas, Propensity score matching, Renewable energy, Rural electrification, Tobit estimator
  • Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Affiliated: No

Abstract

The present study investigates the nexus between electrification of the mountainous rural areas and selected indicators of socioeconomic development, such as household income, learning hours, and fuel choices in cooking behavior. The empirical investigation is based on the field survey in the recently electrified Yapshor and non-electrified Deh villages of the Rushan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan. The study reveals a strong positive impact of electrification of these villages on the level of household income and daily learning hours of school-age children. Getting electricity access leads to 34–48% increase in household income and to 71–95 min of additional daily learning hours of school-age children. Furthermore, electricity access also strongly contributes to the substitution of firewood, coal, or animal manure with clean electricity for cooking. Due to individual taste preferences there is, however, still a substantial percentage of village dwellers who has not shifted to clean electricity for cooking.