DUSHANBE, April 28, 2009, Asia-Plus — Speaking at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the planning department within Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) power holding, Suhrob Rahimov, noted on April 27 that the issue of repayment of Tajik electricity supplier’s debt to Russia’s open joint-stock company (OJSC) Sangtuda HPP-1 that has built the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Tajikistan is at the stage of settlement.
According to him, the problem is that findings of Barqi Tojik and Sangtuda HPP-1 on the amount of the debt differ from each other. “According to our data, Barqi Tojik’s debt to Sangtuda HPP-1 currently amounts to 30 million somoni, while the Sangtuda HPP-1 administration states that we now owe some 50 million somoni to them,” Rahimov said.
The Tajik electricity supplier official noted that such a great difference had resulted from the new rate set by the Sangtuda HPP-1 administration for electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 on January 1, 2009. “The new rate, which is now is 3.10 cents per one kWh of electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 power plant, was set without coordination with the Tajik side,” he said.
Rahimov expressed confidence that the issue would be settled in the near future. He added that Barqi Tojik has transferred more than 38 million somoni to the Sangtuda-1 station since January 1, 2009.
It is to be noted that delays in repayment of Barqi Tojik’s debt has become reason for delay in introduction of the fourth unit of the Sangtuda-1 station into operation. We will recall that Sangtuda HPP-1 stated on February 20 this year that introduction of the fourth unit of the station into operation has been postponed until Barqi Tojik can repay a debt of 16.5 million somoni (equivalent to some 4.4 million US dollars).
