KULOB, June 25, 2008, Asia-Plus — In a ceremony in the southern city of Kulob, President Emomali Rahmon today morning presided over the opening of the power grid Lolazor-Khatlon. The power grid Lolazor-Khatlon was hailed as a step towards improvement of electricity supplies to the region. It was noted that introduction of the power grid into operation will allow making electricity supplies to the eastern part of Khatlon more stable.
We will recall that a 220-kV 93-kilometer power transmission line Lolazor-Khatlon was supposed to be introduced into operation in March but the introduction was postponed as extreme winter weather had slowed the construction work.
The Lolazor-Khatlon power grid has been constructed by China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd (TBEA). In April 2006, Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding and TBEA signed contracts for the construction of high-voltage electricity transmission lines in Tajikistan. They agreed to build a 500-kV 350-kilometer South-North line, linking power systems of Tajikistan”s southern and northern regions, and a 220-V 93-kilometer line, called the “Lolazor-Khatlon” line, in the Khatlon province.
A total cost of the Lolazor-Khatlon project is $58 million. The Chinese side provides $55.1 million in preferential loan, carrying an annual interest of 2 percent, and Tajikistan contributes $2.9 million to the project budget. The capacity of the Lolazor-Khatlon power grid will be some 4 billion kWh of electricity a year and it will allow exporting Tajik electrical power to Afghanistan.
After that, the head of state attended the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the second building of Kulob Teachers’ Training College.
The private construction company Ghaffor is constructing the building. The Ghaffor head Habibullo Nazarov said that the new building will have 15 classes to accommodate totaling 450 students and two computer classes. It will also have a modern gym. Construction is funded by the national budget through the unit for coordination of projects for development of the city of Kulob. The estimated budget for construction of the building is 3.4 million somonis. The budget has already allocated 200,000 somonis.
Emomali Rahmon also opened the monument to founder of Tajik-Persian classical literature Abu Abdullo Roudaki erected at the Youth Square in the center of Kulob. 1.3 million somonis have been spent for construction of the monument.
After that, the president attended inauguration of the city center Gulafzo, which will be engaged in selling computers and offering all kinds of photo services.
Rahmon also intends to visit farming units Meros and Safrali Zaripov in the Kulob district.
