DUSHANBE, March 18, 2009, Asia-Plus — Administration of open joint-stock company (OJSC) Sangtuda HPP-1 that has built the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) is seriously concerned over delay in repayment by Tajik electricity supplier, Barqi Tojik, of its debt for electrical power received, Russia’s news agency Itar Tass reported referring to the source at Sangtuda HPP-1.
Itar Tass reports that Barqi Tojik now owes more than 41 million somoni in arrears to Sangtuda HPP-1. Representative of Sanguda HPP-1 was quoted as saying that in accordance with the protocol on the emission of shares of OJSC Sangtuda HPP-1 and making changes to the government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Russia on procedure and terms of participation of Russia in construction of the Sangutda-1 station, the Tajik side should bear responsibility on paying for electricity generated by the Sangutda-1 station.
We will recall that that the source at Sangtuda HPP-1 told Asia-Plus on February 20 that the opening of the Sangtuda-1 station scheduled for February 25 has been postponed until Barqi Tojik Tajik can repay a debt of 16.8 million somoni. He added that the Sangtuda HPP-1 administration would probably file suit against Barqi Tojik over unpaid debt at Tajikistan Higher Economic today.
In the meantime, according to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik told RFE/RL”s Tajik Service on February 20 that the company is unable to settle the debt at this time.
The first unit of the Russian-built Sangtuda-1 station was introduced into operation on January 20, 2008. During 2008, the second and the third units of the plant were also introduced into operation — on July 1 and November 6 respectively.
The construction of the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant located some 110 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe began in the late 1980s. By the early 1990s, only 20% of the construction work had been completed, and further construction was suspended due to a civil war that broke out in Tajikistan in the early 1990s. The talks between Russia and Tajikistan on completing the construction of the Sangtuda-1 HPP began in 2003 and in 2004 the parties signed an inter-governmental agreement.
Russia retains a 75 percent share in the power plant, which will generate a projected 2.7 billion kWh of electricity per annum. The power station will have an estimated capacity of 670 MW.
