DUSHANBE, April 5, Asia-Plus — The Roghun hydroelectricity project problem impedes development of bilateral relationship between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.
Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ramazan Abdulatipov remarked this at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 4.
The news conference was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Russia.
“The question is not of positions of our presidents,” said Abdulatipov, “The problem lies in inability of the direct participants of the project – the Government of Tajikistan and RusAl to reach an agreement.”
He stated that Russia will continue to build the station. He noted that the Roghun problem can be tackled if it is brought to the intergovernmental commission.
For his, Yatimov noted that Tajikistan is satisfied with a progress of the implementation of the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectricity project funded by Russia’s Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES).
On the Roghun station, the deputy minister noted that “despite some disagreements between RusAl and the government, the Tajik side shares views of official representatives of Russian on ways of seeking solution to this problem.”
We will recall that Tajik Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gulov in January criticized RusAl for failing to fulfill points of the contract that it signed in 2004 to complete the construction of the Roghun plant that is crucial for Tajikistan. Tajik official noted that other companies are interested in the project.
