DUSHANBE, September 28, 2010, Asia-Plus — Blocking the Vakhsh River in winter for the beginning of construction of the dam for the Roghun hydroelectric power pant (HPP) is still undecided, according to open joint-stock company OJSC NBO Roghun.
“Preparatory work is under way and according to the preliminary schedule the river is planned to be blocked this winter when the water level in Vakhsh will be low,” said the source, “However, on demand of the World Bank that finances the techno-economic, the environmental and social impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project all large-scale works at the site must be suspended upon completion of the assessments, and therefore, the issue of blocking the river for the beginning of construction of the dam is still unsolved.”
Despite this, we will do whatever is necessary for this process because implementation of the set plans remains prerogative of the Tajik government, he added.
If it is completed, Roghun will be the highest dam in the world — 335 metres high. The hydroelectric power plant is expected to have six turbines with total capacity of 3,600 MW. When constructed, it expected to produce 13.1 billion kWh of electricity per year. Construction of the Roghun plant was begun in 1976, but work has been consistently interrupted because of financial constraints, various natural disasters, and concerns raised by Uzbekistan. Uzbek officials are worried that the dam will reduce the flow of water on the Vakhsh River, which is vital for irrigating the country”s cotton fields.
The estimate budget for completion of construction of the plant is 2-2.5 billion U.S. dollars.
In 2008-2009, the government allocated more than 160.18 million U.S. dollars for the project and the country’s budget for 20010 earmarked some 150 million U.S. dollars for the Roghun hydroelectricity project. Besides, the government has launched an initial public offering (IPO) this year to complete constriction of the station. The national medium-term program designed for 2011-2013 stipulates allocation of more than 1.21 billion U.S. dollars for Roghun’s construction.
Thousands of people are being relocated in order to finish construction of the Roghun hydropower plant. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the resettlement process will take at least until the end of this year. About 1,500 families with 6,538 members will be moved, and almost 453 families have already been moved. The Tajik government and local authorities have a scheme for resettling these people, who will receive onetime financial help, low-interest loans, and other means that government can provide.
