DUSHANBE, July 9, Asia-Plus — Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister for CIS also Russian President’s Special Representative to CIS States, Sergey Naryshkin, is arriving in Dushanbe today morning for an one-day working visit.
According to president’s executive office, the purpose of the visit is for the Russian vice-premier is to visit sites for construction of Sangtuda-1 and Roghun power plants.
The same day, Russian deputy minister will hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Asadullo Ghulomov to discuss cooperation issues.
According to unofficial information, the talks will focused on a new project for completing construction of the Roghun power plant in Tajikistan.
We will recall the Tajikistan is going to break a US$1 billion contract with Russian aluminum giant UC RUSAL for a hydroelectric plant, after continuing problems with the project. The Roghun dam, crucial for Tajikistan, has been stalled from the outset by disputes between the government and RUSAL. In January, the Tajik government accused the company of failing to fulfill the contract signed in 2004.
Barqi Tojik power holding head Sharifkhon Samiyev said in April that the government now intends to create an international consortium to complete the project. Russian companies, except RUSAL, would be welcome to join, he added. According to him, there is a government decision to bar RUSAL from working in the country,” Samiyev said.
