Pamir-1 HPP now operates in full capacity, says ministry of energy

DUSHANBE, January 28, 2011, Asia-Plus — Work on

reinstallation of Unit 2 at the Pamir-1 hydroelectric power plant

(HPP) has been completed and the station now operates in full

capacity, the source at the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI)

said.

“All four units of the station with a total capacity of 28 megawatt

now operate that allows providing regular electricity supply to some

districts of Gorno Badakhshan,” he noted.

We will recall that sudden water flooding occurred at the Pamir-1 HPP

on February 5, 2007 and following an accident, all four units were

entirely engulfed by flood water resulting in extensive damage of the

plant and equipment. The damage caused by a severe ‘hydraulic shock’

destroyed unit 2 completely, while units 1, 3 and 4 suffered minimal

damage.

At the initiative of a MoEI and under financial support of the Aga

Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) an agreement has been

concluded with BHEL, India’s largest producer of power generating

equipment including turbines, for equipment for the Pamir-1 HPP, the

source said.

The Pamir-1 HPP is operated by PamirEnergy, which is a joint project

of the Government of Tajikistan, the AKFED, the World Bank’s private

finance division, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). A total cost of

the project is some 26.5 million U.S. dollars, including the Tajik

government’s contribution of 10 million U.S. dollars.

The company has a 25 year concession on the assets formerly under the

management on Barqi Tojik (Tajik electricity supplier) in Gorno

Badakhshan. In exchange for this concession (management right),

PamirEnergy has invested in completing the Pamir hydropower station,

rehabilitating power generation, transmission and distribution assets,

and improving the management of the company.