DUSHANBE, June 4, Asia-Plus — Energy independence of Tajikistan will be reached, first of all, due to completion of construction and introduction into operation of Sangtuda-1 and Sangtuda-2 power plants in 2009, Prime Minister stated at the meeting of the Consultative Group of Donors (Tajikistan Development Forum) in Dushanbe on June 2.
According to him, these two plants will cover electrical power shortages (1.5-2 billion kWh) Tajikistan is currently experiencing in the autumn-winter period.
Besides, a 500-voltage power-transmission line from Turkmenistan via Uzbekistan to Tajikistan will have been finished by this timeК, the prime minister said.
Dwelling on the Roghun power plant problem, Oqilov noted that it is planned to set up an international consortium to complete the construction of this plant. He added that many countries, including South Korea, had expressed wish to participate in this consortium.
The same day, speaking to journalists, the First Deputy Prime Minister Asadullo Ghulomov said that international financial institutions had seconded a proposal to develop thermal electrical power in Tajikistan along with construction of the hydroelectric power stations (HPS).
“It means that Dushanbe and Yovon cogeneration plants will be shifted to coal and a 1,200 MW thermal electric power station working on coal will be constructed at the Fon-Yaghnob coalmine in northern Tajikistan,” the deputy prime minister said, noting that many international financial institutions seconded that project, and the United Stated Department of Commerce expressed readiness to fund carrying out of feasibility study.
He added that cost of electricity generated by the Fon-Yaghnob thermal electric power would not be higher than the cost of electricity generated by HPSs.
According to Ghulomov, at first, the Fon-Yaghnob thermal electric power station will provide with electricity the Zarafshon Valley in northern Tajikistan and with introduction into operation of new power-transmission lines it will be connected to the unified system and electrical power generated by it will be exported to other countries.
