DUSHANBE, July 22, 2008, Asia-Plus — In a report released at a press conference in Dushanbe, the Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali revealed on July 22 that Tajikistan and Afghanistan have not yet signed a power trading agreement because of price disagreements.
As it had been reported earlier, the agreement was supposed to be signed in Dushanbe on June 20 but signing was postponed for later time, as it was noted that time, “for technical reasons.”
Under the agreement, electrical power will be transmitted to the neighboring country via a 220kV power-transmission line Sangtuda-1 – Pul-e Khumri (Afghanistan). Construction of this power grid is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has allocated a $50 million loan for the project.
Speaking to reporters, Gul Sherali noted that Tajikistan itself has to purchase electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 station at the rate of 3.1 cents per one kWh, and therefore, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) had offered the Afghan side to purchase electricity at the rate of 3.5 cents. “The Afghan side said that the agreement will be signed after the proposed prices is discussed by Afghan specialists,” the minister said.
We will recall that the project includes construction of the power grid and modernization of one of units at the Golovnaya hydropower plant in Sarband, Khatlon province. The estimated budget for construction of the power-transmission line alone is some $23 million. Construction of 120-kilometer power grid Sangtuda-1 – Pul-e Khumri is supposed to start this autumn and be finished in spring 2010.
In 2010-2015, Tajikistan will supply electrical power to Afghanistan only during summer months, and only with introduction into operation of the first unit of the Roghun hydroelectric power station, Tajik electricity supplies to Afghanistan will be year-round.
