DUSHANBE, February 7, Asia-Plus – PamirEnergy (Pamir Energy Company) wishes to assure its customers that it is doing everything under its control to get the plant operating at maximum levels, Mahedi Lalani, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Pamir Energy Company
Sudden water flooding
of the Pamir-I hydropower plant in the village of Tang, Shugnan district, just outside of Khorog, GBAO, was reported Monday, at 5:35 p.m.
Lalani said that with the support of emergency services and the government agencies, the closure of the water gates to the power plant has been secured and flooding has effectively been brought under control. Nobody was injured or harmed during this course of events, according to him.
At this time, the cause of the flood, extent of damage and time to repair are unknown as inspection of the site remains difficult. The government and PamirEnergy specialists will conduct a full investigation to determine causes and make recommendations on the rehabilitation of the facility.
PamirEnergy is exploring, in partnership with other AKDN agencies, all the possibilities to mitigate the inconvenience caused to PamirEnergy consumers and the people of GBAO.
The PamirEnergy project involved the rehabilitation and expansion of the Pamir 1 power plant, a major (28 MW) hydro electric power project. Following its completion in November 2005, an all-day electricity supply was provided to the residents of Khorog city and surrounding districts for the first time since independence.
While Pamir-1 hydropower plant currently remains closed, provisions for power supply to PamirEnergy customers are made from the Khorog I (9 MW) power plant on a restricted basis, with a power sharing schedule to be agreed shortly with the Government.
“PamirEnergy appreciates your understanding and cooperation and wishes to assure its customers that it is doing everything under its control to get the plant operating at maximum levels,” Lalani said.
PamirEnergy, which is 70% owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and 30% by the World Bank’s private finance division, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has a 25 year concession on the assets formerly under the management on Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) in GBAO. In exchange for this concession (management right), PamirEnergy invests in completing the Pamir hydropower station, rehabilitating power generation, transmission and distribution assets, and improving the management of the company.
