DUSHANBE, January 4, 2010, Asia-Plus — Under the documents signed here today, Iran will allocate additional 6 million U.S. dollars for the completion of the construction of the Istiqlol (also known as Anzob) Tunnel in Tajikistan, Tajik Minister Energy and Industries Gul Sherali told reporters in Dushanbe on January 4.
According to him, one million U.S. dollars are allocated in the form of grant and the remaining five million U.S. dollars are allocated as a long-term loan.
We will recall that Iran’s Fars News Agency (FNA) reported on January 3 that Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian held a meeting with Tajik Finance Minister Safarali Najmiddinov over the completion of the strategic tunnel. Following the meeting, Chitchian described his talks with the Tajik official as fruitful and important. “At the meeting with the Tajik side, we reached an agreement on the procedures for allocating the $5mln additional loan to complete implementation of the Istiqlol Tunnel project,” Iranian official told FNA.
Meanwhile, Gul Sherali noted that Iran’s Farab Company would conduct a feasibility study for construction of the 150MW Ayni hydropower plant on Zarafshan River in northern Tajikistan. Tajik minister further added that it could not be ruled out that Farab would be given a contract for construction of the plant.
According to him, the Iranian side will assist Tajikistan with training personnel for its oil-and-gas sector and it also plans to participate in exploration and development of gas fields in Tajikistan.
