DUSHANBE, May 7, 2009, Asia-Plus — Administration of open joint-stock company (OJSC) Sangtudinskaya GES-1 is concerned about delays in repayment of debt of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding for consumption of electrical power generated by the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP).
As of April 30, Barqi Tojik’s debt to Sangtudinskaya GES-1 has amounted to some 70 million somoni, the source at the Sangtuda HPP-1 said. According to him, because of delays in repayment of the debt the company’s tax debts have increased and workers have not received wages during four months.
Stressing the importance of completion of construction of the station by mid-May, the source noted that the company now carried out the construction work due its is own resources “but they are not unlimited.”
He also noted that statement of Barqi Tojik officials that Sangtudinskaya GES-1 allegedly raised electricity rate to 3.1 cents on January 1, 2009 unilaterally without coordination with the Tajik side was unfounded. “Prices are set in accordance with the agreement signed on June 5, 2007,” said the source, “Under this agreement the price of one kWh of electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 HPP increases to 3.1 cents beginning on January 1, 2009.”
We will recall that speaking at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the Barqi Tojik planning department Suhrob Rahimov noted on April 27 that the issue of repayment of Barqi Tojik’s debt to Sangtudinskaya GES-1 that has built the Sangtuda-1 station in Tajikistan is at the stage of settlement. According to him, the problem is that findings of Barqi Tojik and Sangtuda HPP-1 on the amount of the debt differ from each other. “According to our data, Barqi Tojik’s debt now amounts to 30 million somoni, while the Sangtudinskaya GES-1 administration states that we now owe some 50 million somoni to them,” Rahimov said. He noted that such a great difference had resulted from the new rate set by Sangtudinskaya GES-1 on January 1, 2009. “The new rate, which is now is 3.10 cents per one kWh of electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 power plant, was set without coordination with the Tajik side,” Rahimov said.
