DUSHANBE, January 13, Asia-Plus – As it had been reported earlier, at present a Tajik government delegation is working in Tehran to prepare a series of documents, which are supposed to be signed there during President Rahmonov’s visit to Iran on January 16.
The Tajik delegation currently working in
Tehran
consists of the Minister of Economy and Trade Hakim Soliyev, Minister of Transport Abdurrahim Ashurov, Energy Minister Jurabek Nurmahmadov, as well as deputy ministers of foreign affairs and justice, and deputy head of
Tajikistan
’s central bank.
Firdavs Safarov, a specialist with the department for foreign economic ties within the Tajik Ministry of Energy, has told Asia-Plus that at present the sides are discussing some issues related to the construction of Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant in
Tajikistan
. “There are some technical issues and terms under which the Sangtuda-2 station will be constructed to be resolved,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said, adding, that heads of
Tajikistan
and
Iran
are supposed to sign in
Tehran
next week two documents on Sangtuda-2 plant, including the one on purchase by
Tajikistan
of electricity from
Iran
after Sangtuda-2 stations is finished.
We will recall that on
June 11, 2005
, Tajik Energy Minister, Jurabek Nurmahmadov, and his Iranian counterpart, Habibullah Bitaraf, signed in
Tehran
a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Sungtuda-2 power plant. According to the document, which was drawn up in 19 articles,
Iran
will construct the dam and power plant on the
Vakhsh
River
in
Tajikistan
.
IRNA reported in last June that Iranian Ministry of Energy will undertake preliminary measures required to establish an enterprise to be called “Sangtuda II Co.””, which is to be registered as an Iranian joint stock company. The dam and power station will cost US$220 million in total, of which 180 million dollars will be financed by
Iran
under a 10-year loan with a five-percent interest rate. In addition, US$40 million will be extended to Sangtuda II Co. by
Tajikistan
. IRNA reported at that time that in accordance with the MoU, Sangtuda II Co. would be committed to establish the dam and power station by using the financial facilities to be extended by
Iran
”s Export Development Bank and the credits to be provided by Tajik Ministry of Energy. Upon implementation of the project, once the banking facilities and the relevant expenses and turnover of the company are paid back to
Iran
, the proprietorship of the dam and power station will be transferred to
Tajikistan
”s Ministry of Energy.
In June 2005, the energy ministers of the two countries also agreed in
Tehran
to draft a general agreement on the construction of the Sangtuda-2 that was supposed to be signed before
July 1 2005
. The construction of the Sangtuda-2 station was supposed to start last summer and Iranian company “Farob” has been committed to be general contractor. According to experts from the Tajik Energy Minister, that annual income from exploitation of the Sangtuda-2 power plant will be some US$20 million.
