DUSHANBE, August 7, Asia-plus — On Monday August 6, Tajik Minister Energy and Industries, Gul Sherali, and Indian Deputy Foreign Minister, Nilakantan Ravi (phonetically spelled) singed in Dushanbe a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on reconstruction (modernization) of the varzob-1 power plant in Tajikistan.
Indian deputy foreign minister noted that the work on modernization of the Varzob-1 power plant is planned to be finished by the end of this year.
Tajik energy minister noted that after the modernization the plant will serve another 50 years.
Following the memorandum-signing ceremony, Rashid Gulov, deputy engineer-in-chief at Barqi Tojik power holding, told Asia-Plus that the Government of India has already provided a $13 million grant for this project.
We will recall that the source at Barqi Tojik said in early July that modernization will allow increasing the plant’s capacity from 3.5 MW to 9.4 MW,” the source said.
3.5 MW Varzob-1, one of three power plants of the Varzob Cascade (a total of more than 26 MW), was constructed in 1936. Varzob Cascade hydropower stations also include Varzob-2 (14.76 MW) and Varzob-3 (3.52 MW). They also need to be rehabilitated to increase utilization and efficiency.
Specialists from Barqi Tojik say that the Varzob-1 power plant has practically not been in operation over the last years and rehabilitation would include primarily the turbines, runners, substations, and ancillary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, and some piping.
