KHUJAND, December 4, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Chkalovsk city court yesterday completed consideration of criminal proceedings instituted against a group of managers of the Qairoqqum hydroelectric plant (HPP).
Former director of the Qairoqqum HPP Siroj Poulodov, the station engineer-in-chief Suhrob Mahmadjonov, the turbine room head Rashid Takhtamurodov, shift supervisor Maqsoud Abdulloyev and officer from the non-departmental guard at the Sughd police directorate Jourabek Oripov stood the trial for an accident that hit the Qairoqqum HPP in January this year.
The court ruled that Maqsoud Abdulloyev and Jourabek Oripov be given jail terms of 7 and 6 years respectively. The sentence followed their conviction on charges of abuse of office or administrative dereliction (Article 391 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code).
The remaining three defendants were released under the amnesty law.
We will recall that the Qairoqqum HPP was closed on January 15 due to accident, leaving a number of cities and districts in northern Tajikistan without electricity. Sudden water flooding of the plant’s basement reportedly damaged all pumps. The plant resumed operation only on January 19.
Built in 1957, the Qairoqqum HPP with rated capacity of 126,000 KW has six units and it is capable to generate 600-700 million kWh of electricity per year.
