DUSHANBE, January 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — Speaking at a January 15 government session reviewing Tajikistan’s economic results in 2008, President Emomali Rahmon ordered the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) and the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest) to work out the project for restructuring of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding and speed up implementation of the project for restructuring of Tajik state natural-gas distributor, Tojikgaz.
According to him, these projects will allow improving provision of the population with electrical power and natural gas.
Noting that construction of the power transmission line Khatlon-Lolazor was completed last year, the president recommended to complete construction of the power grid South-North this year
To complete construction of the hydroelectric power plant Roghun 145 million somoni were provided last year, the president said, noting that financing of the Roghun hydroelectricity project this year will quadruple. Nine energy projects for a total amount of 1.8 billion somoni are currently being implemented in the country due to foreign investments and state funds, Rahmon said.
He stressed that the present state of the Norak and Qairoqqum stations as well as a cascade of power plants on the Vakhsh River evoked serious concern because they required urgent rehabilitation.
“Relevant bodies are to consider all issues related to rehabilitation of these facilities as soon as possible,” said the president, “Besides, the Ministry of Energy and Industries, Barqi Tojik, as well as local authorities of the Sughd province and Dushanbe should speed up work on conducting feasibility study for construction of the hydropower plants Nourobod-1 and Nourobod-2 on the Khingob River (eastern Tajikistan) and complete work on shifting the Dushanbe heat and power station to alternative fuel.”
He further added that last year’s drought and water shortage had resulted in water resources having decreased and production of electric power in 2008 decreased by 1.23 billion kWh compared to 2007.
Last year’s electricity and natural-gas losses were estimated at 13.2 and 7.2 percent respectively, Rahmon noted.
