DUSHANBE, August 11, 2009, Asia-Plus – This year, Tajikistan will purchase electricity generated by the Russian-built hydroelectricity power plant (HPP) Sangtuda-1 at the rate of US$0.0169 (equivalent to some 0.075 somoni) per one kWh, Russia’s news agency Interfax reported on August 11, referring to Russian government’s order of July 30, 2009.
The contract between the countries is designed for 20 years with an annual 4 percent indexation, starting from January 1, 2010, the news agency said.
In the meantime, open joint-stock company (OJSC), Sangtudisnkaya GES-1, which was established in February 2005 for construction of the station, will set rates for export of the Santuda-1 electricity on its own, Interfax said.
Besides, by the Russian government’s order the Russian Federation owns 75 percent of shares minus one share in OJSC Sangtudisnkaya GES-1 and Tajikistan assumes the 25% ownership interest plus one share, according to Interfax.
We will recall that the construction of the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant located some 110 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe began in the late 1980s. By the early 1990s, only 20% of the construction work had been completed, and further construction was suspended due to a civil war that broke out in Tajikistan in the early 1990s. The talks between Russia and Tajikistan on completing the construction of the Sangtuda-1 HPP began in 2003 and in 2004 the parties signed an inter-governmental agreement.
Russia retains a 75 percent share in the power plant, which generates a projected 2.7 billion kWh of electricity per annum. The power station has an estimated capacity of 670 MW.
The first unit of the Sangtuda-1 station was introduced into operation on January 20, 2008. During 2008, the second and the third units of the plant were also introduced into operation on July 1 and November 6 respectively. And the last fourth unit was put into operation in May this year.
In late July this year, Tajik government endorsed a 25 percent increase in electricity prices. Since August 1, residential customers have paid for electricity at the rate of 7.5 dirams per one kWh. Besides, current prices are 12.5 dirams for federally funded institutions, 17.1 dirams for industrial enterprises (Talco pays at the rate of 6.7 dirams per kWh), and 42.1 dirams for commercial enterprises.
It was the second electricity price rise in the country this year. The first 25 percent rice in electricity prices was introduced in Tajikistan at the beginning of the year.
