DUSHANBE, May 2, Asia-Plus — A Tajik energy delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Asadullo Ghulomov will pay a working visit to Pakistan on May 8-9, Sharifkhon Samiyev, chairman of “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric systems) open-joint-stock holding company, remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 28.
According to him, issues related to implementation of a project for the construction of a power-transmission line fro Tajikistan to Pakistan will be in the center of discussion in Islamabad. Mr. Samiyev noted that Tajikistan considered Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan as potential market for selling electric power generated by its hydropower plants. “On the completion of the construction of new hydropower plants these countries will be potential market for Tajik electricity,” the Barqi Tojik holding company head said.
We will recall that Tajikistan last year offered to help Pakistan in meeting its growing energy requirements. In March last year, Tajikistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoI) with Pakistan to explore the feasibility of exporting electricity to that country. The Tajik energy delegation will visit Pakistan next week to finalize modalities for the power export to Pakistan.
On the construction of new hydroelectric power stations in Tajikistan, the Barqi Tojik deputy chairman Aleksey Silantyev noted that in future they planned develop hydropower potentials of the Zarafshon River in the northern province of Sughd. “13 small power plants are supposed to be constructed on this river,” Silantyev said, noting that Russian-Ukrainian joint venture “RosUkEnergo” expressed to construct three of them and China is ready to construct six others.
Besides, during the last two weeks specialists from the U.S. Company “AC” familiarized themselves with potentials of the Panj River for the construction of the Dashtijum hydroelectric power station.
In future, Tajik power engineering specialists are also considering the construction of the power-transmission line Regar-Khujand and via Uzbekistan to southern Kazakhstan.
We will recall that Barqi Tojik holding company was withdrawn from the Energy Ministry on March 28. In future, an issue of restructuring this energy holding company will be considered and several companies engaged in construction of hydropower facilities and realization of electricity will be established on the basis of it.
