DUSHANBE, December 15, Asia-Plus – The construction of a dam on the Vakhsh River will officially commence today morning, presidential press service reported.
A source at presidential press service said that President Emomali Rahmonov and Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia’s Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES), and Sharifkhon Samiyev, head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, will take part in an official beginning of the construction of the dam.
In connection with damming the river and reduction in generation of electricity by the Norak hydroelectric power station, a strict electrical power cutback has introduced across the country, including some areas Dushanbe since December 13. Today night, at 11:00 p.m., electricity supplies are expected to be cut off, and electricity will be available only to the facilities of nationwide significance.
Tajikistan’s main resource is water, and Russia is stepping up efforts to develop the republic’s hydropower generating capacity. Construction of Sangtuda-1 started in April 2005, and Anatoly Chubais announced that contractors would intensify work to meet the construction deadline for the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power station. RAO YeES is spending approximately $500 million to build Sangtuda-1, and the Russian entity will retain a 75 percent share in the power plant, which will generate a projected 2.7 billion kWh of electricity per annum. The power station will have an estimated capacity of 670 MW – enough to meet Tajikistan’s domestic needs and allow for the export of electricity, namely to Afghanistan.
Construction on Sangtuda-1 started in April 2005, and more than 40 percent of the plant had been completed so far. The power station is scheduled to go into full operation in 2009, with the first unit expected to begin generating electricity in April 2007.
