DUSHANBE, December 17, 2012, Asia-Plus – This year, heat season will start in the Tajik capital on December 25, according to Barqi Tojik (Tajik state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity).
Last year, the Dushanbe combined heat and power (CHP) plant was introduced into operation in the second half of December and only some areas in Shohmansour and Ismoili Somoni districts were provided with heat and hot water.
Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov held a meeting last Saturday to discuss rehabilitation of the Dushanbe (CHP) plant.
Rehabilitation of the Western boiler plant reportedly includes construction of new facilities and installation of modern equipment. A total cost of the project is 32 million somoni.
Meanwhile, an official source at the Dushanbe CHP plant says the plant is fully prepared for the heat season.
Barqi Tojik and Tojiktransgaz (Tajik natural-gas distributor) have already signed an agreement on supplying natural gas to the Dushanbe CHP plant. During autumn-winter 2012-2013, the Dushanbe CHP plant is expected to receive 21 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Besides, the plant has stockpiled 16,500 tons of low-sulfur fuel oil, which is used as backup fuel for the plant that runs on natural gas. “Another 5,000 tons of fuel oil will be delivered to the plant within the next few days,” the source added.
The Dushanbe 198-megawatt CHP plant was introduced into operation in 1968. Specialists say if enough natural gas is supplied to the Dushanbe CHP-plant regularly, the plant is able to generate up to 2 million kWh of electric power per day.
We will recall that Chinese company, Tebian Electronic Apparatus Stock Company Limited (TBEA), will build a new 250-megawatt CHP plant in Dushanbe. The plant will be built in the Luchob area.
According to Barqi Tojik, TBEA will construct the plant on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Once the CHP plant is built, all the revenue over the next 12 years will go to the investor and Tajikistan will become the owner of the CHP plant after this period expires.
The CHP plant project is part of the Tajikistani government’s effort to use the country’s coal resources in tackling power shortages. Specialists say construction of the coal-powered plant is in compliance with Tajikistan’s environmental regulations.
Tajikistan relies almost exclusively on hydropower to generate electricity, which becomes scarce in the winter months when rivers freeze and water reservoir levels drop.
