DUSHANBE, August 30, Asia-Plus — A trilateral meeting of energy ministers of Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan has resulted in signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on construction of a power grid from Tajikistan to Iran via the territory of Afghanistan.
Tajik Minister of Energy and Industries Sherali Gul, Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah and Afghan Water and Energy Minister Mohammad Ismail Khan inked the document in Dushanbe on August 28, following the tripartite meeting to discuss ways to expand cooperation in the field of energy.
According to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, the 500 kV power-transmission line, 1,200 kilometers in length, will come from Tajikistan’s Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) via Kunduz, Mazar-i Sharif and Herat in Afghanistan to the city of Mashhad in Iran.
The source at Barqi Tojik said that Iran’s Moshanir power engineering consultants jointly with tripartite working group will conduct feasibility study for construction of the power grid.
“The feasibility study should be completed by March 1, 2009,” the source said, noting that Iranian company Tavanir will fund the feasibility study conducting. The budget for construction of the power grid and finance sources will be determined after completion of the feasibility study, according to the source.
Moshanir power engineering consultants, affiliated to Iran’s Ministry of Energy, was established in 1970. The scope of activities of the company includes engineering consultancy services in the fields of dams and hydroelectric, power plants, as well as power transmission and distribution networks.
