DUSHANBE, April 20, 2011, Asia-Plus — The techno-economic and the environmental impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project will be completed in May this year.
President Emomali Rahmon remarked this today while addressing a joint meeting of both chambers of the parliament.
According to him, the construction of the Sangtud-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP), which is being built with help of Iranian specialists, will be completed until the end of 2011.
Rahmon stressed that energy independence of Tajikistan might be provided in the coming three years. “Construction of small hydropower plants is progressing,” said the president, “To-date, 241 small hydropower plants have been constructed in the country and another 190 small hydropower plants will be built until 2020.”
He also noted that Tajikistan was on the road to natural gas self-sufficiency and the country would be able to provide itself with domestic natural gas in the near future.
“15 domestic and foreign companies are currently working to explore and develop 87 gas fields,” said Rahmon, “Gas reserves of the Sariqamish field alone are enough to supply Tajikistan fro 50 years.”
We will recall that construction of the Roghun HPP was started around 1980 and was stopped in 1992. Since then, the Government of Tajikistan has allocated a minimum budget to continue works on a low key and maintenance basis. Currently most of the site preparation works as well as an estimated 70% of the underground works have reportedly been completed. The installed capacity is proposed to be 6×600 MW (totaling 3,600 MW) and the annual power generation would be 13,300 GWh. Despite significant storage, Roghun HPP is expected to produce electricity in Tajikistan and develop irrigation in the region. The majority of the electricity to be produced by Roghun HPP is expected to be exported.
In March 2010, the government of Tajikistan and the World Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to achieve sustainable development of Tajikistan”s energy resources, secure supply of energy services to the people of Tajikistan and promote balanced economic growth. Under this document, the techno-economic, the environmental and social impact assessments for the Roghun hydroelectricity project will be conducted.
