DUSHANBE, September 5, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Tajikistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the proposed project on main Tajik hydropower plant”s rehabilitation on 5 September, the ADB office in Tajikistan reported to Asia-Plus.
The main hydropower plant is located on Vakhsh river, about 80 kilometers south of Dushanbe. With a capacity of 240 Mega Watts, it is the second oldest hydropower plant in the country after Qayraqqum power plant.
Construction of the main hydropower plant began in 1956, and was launched in 1962.
Levan Mchedlishvili, Senior Energy Specialist in ADB Central and West Asia Department, said: “The proposed project, which was developed jointly by the Ministry of Energy and Industry, ”Barq-i Tajik”, and ADB, is the first large-scale rehabilitation of a large hydropower plant in Tajikistan, which uses modern technologies. Such a capital rehabilitation will extend the power plant”s work for 50 more years, and is very profitable.”
It is expected that after rehabilitation, the power plant”s capacity will increase up to 252 Mega Watts. It will be able to produce 1 130 Giga Watts per hour of electricity per year, which is 387 Giga Watts per hour more than what was produced in 2012.
ADB is considering allocation of a grant in the amount of $ 116 million for this project. It is expected that the ADB Board of Directors will review the grant proposal at the end of 2013.
