DUSHANBE, February 13, 2009, Asia-Plus — The government of Tajikistan is currently conducting negotiations with China’s Exim (export/import) Bank on financing of construction of the tunnel through the Chormaghzak Pass in southern Tajikistan, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).
The source at a MoEI said that Exim Bank was expected to provide a preferential long-term loan of 64 million dollars for implementation of that project. “Meanwhile, the sides have not signed any documents,” he said.
It is to be noted that during President Rahmon’s visit to Tehran in May 2007 a memorandum of understanding was signed on development and implementation of the Chormaghzak tunnel construction project. The Iranian government decided to allocate 55 million US dollars for construction of the tunnel through the Chormaghzak Pass and Iranian company, Saber International, was chosen to implement the project. Saber International was supposed to construct the tunnel in three years. However, the MoEI later stated that the construction work would start only after determination of a final cost of the project.
Construction of a 4.2-kilomter Chormaghzak tunnel is part of the Dushanbe-Danghara road rehabilitation project, which implemented by China’s company.
