DUSHANBE, December 11, Asia-Plus – A date of damming the Vakhsh River for the construction of a dam of Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant will be fixed this week, a source in the Tajik government told Asia-Plus.
Meanwhile, Igor Kim, engineer-in-chief with the management for the construction of Sangtuda-1 power station, today said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the construction of two drainage tunnels of the station is scheduled to be finished on December 15. “However, it is the preliminary date because the concreting works may possibly last for two other weeks,” said Kim, “We have to lay some 1,000 cubic meters of concrete in the tunnels.” According to him, some 1,500 builders have been involved in the construction of the tunnels.”
Kim added that in all, some 2,000 builders from five different companies are working on the construction of the station day and night, in three shifts. According to him, an exact date of damming the river will be announced after the completion of concreting works in the drainage tunnels.
Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov is expected to visit the site for Sangtuda-1 station tomorrow. The main purpose of the visit is for the prime minister to familiarize himself with a progress of the construction works.
In the meantime, Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding claims that the river will be dammed on December 17, and head of Russia’s Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES) Anatoly Chubais will arrive in Tajikistan to attend an official beginning of the construction of the Sangtuda-1 dam. A source at Barqi Tojik said that an appropriate decision was made by Barqi Tojik and the management for the construction of Santuda-1 station at a meeting on December 9.
