DUSHANBE, May 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — Iranian president is expected to arrive in Tajikistan soon to join his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon in a joint ceremony to introduce the second unit of the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) on the Vakhsh River into operation, an official source at the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe says.
“Most likely, introduction of the second and last unit of the Sangtuda-2 HPP into operation is being delayed because of the upcoming Iranian presidential election,” the source noted.
The presidential election in Iran is scheduled to be held on June 14, 2013. If no presidential candidate polls 50 percent of the vote on the first round, a runoff will be held on 21 June. It will elect the seventh President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Meanwhile, Barqi Tojik (Tajik state electricity supplier) now owes some 50 million somoni (equivalent to some 12.5 million USD). “Repayment of the debt is carried out in accordance with the schedule,” Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik noted.
We will recall that the first unit of the plant was introduced into operation on September 5, 2011. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a joint ceremony to unveil the Sangtuda-2 dam and power plant.
Construction of Sangtuda-2, a 220-megawatt plant on the Vakhsh River, officially commenced in February 2006. It is located some 120 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.
Iran, which has put some 180 million U.S. dollars into the construction of the hydropower station, will operate it for the next 12 years and then transfer control to Tajikistan, whose contribution to the construction costs amounted to around 40 million U.S. dollars.
The power plant is expected to help alleviate power shortages in Tajikistan during autumn-winter period.
