DUSHANBE, July 28, 2008, Asia-Plus – The first Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Asadullo Ghulomov, has denied report by Russia’s newspaper about alleged consent of Tajikistan for Russia’s assuming 75 percent ownership interest in the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) under construction.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ghulomov confirmed that he sent a letter to the Russian side on June 26, “but an article published in
Kommersant
on July 23 misrepresented the letter’s sense.”
According to him, he noted that in the letter that the government of Tajikistan had considered a draft agreement between the governments of Tajikistan and Russia on completing construction of the Roghun HPS, prepared by the Russian side, and “considers it expedient to begin joint discussion of the mentioned agreement in the context of today’s realties.” “The today’s realities are the following: 1) more than 40 percent of work on construction of the Roghun station have been done and it is property of Tajikistan; and 2) Tajikistan jointly with the World Bank is working on creation of an international consortium for completion of the construction of the Roghun HPS, which is open for all those interested in participation in the project.”
“Within the framework of the mentioned consortium, Russia has the right to participate in completion of the construction of the Roghun station,” Ghulomov said, noting that that there is no any other alternative of implementation of the Roghun hydroelectricity project.
We will recall that on July 23,
Kommersant
published an article entitled “Vakhsh Flows into Russian Energy” by Vladimir Solovyov. Referring to the letter by the first deputy Tajik Prime Minister, Asadullo Ghulomov, the article said that Russia and Tajikistan had come to an agreement on launching an international joint-stock company for completing the construction of the Roghun HPS and Tajikistan will own 25 percent of the shares and Russia will assume the 75% ownership interest in that company.
A statement released by Tajik president’s office announced on August 29, 2007 that Tajikistan has formally revoked a contract with Russia”s RusAl aluminum company for the construction of the Roghun power plant. The statement explained that the cancellation of the contract also includes the “annulment” of the October 2004 agreement on “long-term cooperation” with RusAl.
The Tajik government now intends to create an international consortium to complete the project
According to reports released by some Russian media in early June, Russia and Tajikistan resumed negotiations over completion of the Roghun HPS. In a letter from Tajik Prime Minister, Oqil Oqilov, to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, plans were outlined for the creation of a financial consortium for completion of construction of the power plant, the reports said. It is believed that the World Bank is to be included in the consortium and Tajikistan invited Russia to also join. No details were released, but sources in the Foreign Ministry have implied that Inter RAO YeES is to be put in charge of the project. Inter RAO YeES has declined comment on such an agreement
The Rogun plant, started in Soviet times but never finished, is key to Tajikistan”s goal to become a significant regional electricity exporter and raise aluminum production. The 3,600 MWt Roghun HPS is to generate 13 billion kWh of electricity per year. The plant”s completion would substantially increase sales of electricity to neighboring countries.
