DUSHNBE, September 16, Asia-Plus – Today, China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov and Energy Minister Abdullo Yorov will take part in a ceremony marking the official commencement of the construction of a power transmission line termed the “South-North” line. According the Ministry of Energy, the ceremony is being held in the Chorbogh area in Varzob at 11:00 a.m.
In April of this year, Tajik Barqi Tojik, the state electrical system holding company, and the Chinese power company China Theban Electric Apparatus Stock Company (CTEAS) signed contracts for the construction of high-voltage electricity transmission lines in Tajikistan. The sides agreed to build the 500-kW, 350-kilometer “South-North” electric transmission line linking Tajikistan”s southern and northern regions and a 220-kW 93-kilometer line, called the “Lolazor-Obi Mazor” line, in the Khatlon province. The projects are worth $281 million and $59 million, respectively.
The “South-North” line will be capable to transmit up to 8 billion kWh of electricity a year; the capacity of the “Lolazor-Obi Mazor” will be some 4 billion kWh of electricity a year.
The total budget for these projects is US $340 million. Of this amount, US $300 million has been provided by China’s Exim Bank in loans. The Exim Bank loan carries an annual interest rate of 2 percent. Tajikistan will contribute US $40 million to the project budget.
