DUSHANBE, July 21, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s Ministry of Energy has worked out a draft special long-term program for construction of a series of small hydropower plants in the country in 2007-2020, Deputy Energy Minister, Pulod Muhiddinov, told journalists on July 20.
According to him, all documents have been submitted to relevant ministries and organizations of the country for coordination.
Mr. Muhiddinov noted that under that program 61 small hydroelectric power plants with a total rated capacity of 77,653 kW wee supposed to be constructed in the country within the next thirteen years. A total annual generation of electricity by these power plants is expected to be 465.318 kWh.
The ministry of energy is supposed to implement the program in three stages. “The first stage (2007-2010) includes the construction of 13 small power plants,” said Muhiddinov, “An estimated budget for the implementation of the program’s first stage is some US$11.16 million.” The issue of financing of the first stage has practically been solved, and these stations will be built through loans provided by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), grants awarded by the Asian Development bank (ADB) and funds provided by the “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric systems) power holding, according to him.
“At the second stage (2011-2015), 23 power stations are supposed to be constructed, and 25 other power stations will be constructed and put into operation at the third stage (2016-2020) of the program,” the Tajik energy official said.
Pulod Muhiddinov noted that only five small power plants had operated in Tajikistan before 1992. “So far this year alone, two small hydropower plants have been put into operation in Tajikistan,” the deputy energy minister added.
