DUSHANBE, April 25, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Government of Switzerland contributes to efficiency of electricity and gas supply systems of Dushanbe
Press release issued by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan on April 24 noted that an official ceremony of signing the contract between the Asem Group (Swiss corporation) and the Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, and also between the former and the state unitary enterprise Tajiktransgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) on implementation of the billing system was held in Dushanbe on April 8.
Introduction of the billing system is one of the major components of the Energy Loss Reduction jointly financed by the Government of Switzerland through the State Secretary for Economic Affairs (SECO) and World Bank. The total amount of financing is 30 million US dollars, out which the share of SECO amounts to US$8 million as a grant, and that of World Bank amounts to US$15 million as a loan and US$3 million as a grant, and US$4 million is the Government’s contribution.
The Government of Tajikistan requested international organizations to provide a financial assistance to rehabilitate and strengthen the distribution and collection systems of Barqi Tojik and Tajiktransgaz. In order to ensure reliable and economical energy and gas supply to customers, the Swiss Government’s State Secretariat of Economic Affairs SECO and World Bank have agreed to finance the Energy Loss Reduction Project, jointly with the Government of Tajikistan. Implementation of the Project started in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2011.
Installation of billing system is aimed to assist the Government of Tajikistan and Barqi Tojik and Tajiktransgaz in the reduction of commercial losses in the electrical power distribution system and gas supply system.
The billing system for the electricity sector (Barqi Tojik) designed for ultimate integration into a future automated company management system would be installed with the new meters thus allowing modular extensions at a later stage to cover the entire country.
The billing system for Tajiktransgaz component will allow the company to efficiently realize the gains expected from the improved metering system.
The overall price of the contract with Barqi Tojik amounts to US$1.4 million and that of the contract with Tajiktransgaz amounts to US$1.15 million.
At present, Barqi Tojik and Tajiktransgaz do not have an automated billing metering system installed. The project component will help with design, supply, and installation of the computerized billing system meeting international standards in Dushanbe city.
