DUSHANBE, January 25, Asia-Plus – Last year, Tajikistan imported 300,000 tons of fuel-and-lubricating products, which is 48,000 tons fewer compared to 2004, Nazmiddin Mirzoyev, head of the open joint-stock company “Naftrason” (oil product), told journalists in Dushanbe on January 25.  

According him, decrease in fuel supplies has resulted from world trends, connected with rise in fuel prices, and



Kazakhstan


’s export ban.  

“Now for some reasons,


Kazakhstan


has again extended ban on fuel exports that was introduced last summer till February 1 this year,” Mirzoyev said, noting that they have to date imported 9,000 tons of diesel from the


Russian Federation


for the spring sowing season.  In total,


Tajikistan


is planned to import 30,000 tons of diesel fuel from


Russia


for the spring sowing season.  

Kazakhstan


,


Russia


and


Uzbekistan


provide the bulk of


Tajikistan


”s fuel imports. 

DUSHANBE


, January 25, Asia-Plus – Upon implementation of the Sangtuda-2 project, the proprietorship of Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant will be transferred to


Tajikistan


in 12.5 years after the station is put into operation, Tajik Energy Minister, Jurabek Nurmahmadov, told journalists on January 25.  

Under protocol signed in Dushanbe in January last year Iran will complete the construction of Sangtuda-2 station in Tajikistan, Nurmahmadov said.  “The Iranian side will exploit the station during more than 12 years and thereby it will return its relevant expenses and turnover,” the minister said, noting that Iran is investing 180 million U.S. dollars in this project.  

Nurmahmadov also noted that during the last visit of the Tajik president to


Iran


an agreement on the construction of electric main from


Tajikistan


via


Afghanistan


to


Iran


had been signed.  

As it had been reported earlier, on

June 11, 2005

, Tajik Energy Minister, Jurabek Nurmahmadov and his Iranian counterpart, Habibullah Bitaraf, signed in


Tehran


a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sungtuda-2 power plant.  The dam and power station will cost US$220 million in total, of which 180 million dollars will be financed by Iran under a 10-year loan with a five-percent interest rate.  In addition, US$40 million will be extended by Tajikistan. 

DUSHANBE


, January 25, Asia-Plus – To resolve domestic energy problems


Tajikistan


needs to construct some 50 small hydropower plants, Tajik Energy Minister, Jurabek Nurmahmadov, told journalists on Wednesday January 25.    

“The ministry has already worked out projects for the construction of these stations and submitted them for consideration to international organizations,” the minister said.  

Nurmahmadov also told journalists that seven small and medium power plants are supposed to have been built and put into operation in the republic this year.  The minister added that last year, three small stations such as Cheptura, Artuch and Yoged were put into operation in the republic.  

DUSHANBE


, January 25, Asia-Plus – The construction of first stage of the Roghun hydropower plant in


Tajikistan


will start in March this year, Energy Minister, Jurabek Nurmahmadov, announced at a news conference in


Dushanbe


on January 25.  

At the same time, the minister noted that the final terms of the construction of this plant have not yet been determined.  

“Russian aluminum giant Rusal will have invested some US$56 million this year in the construction of the first stage of the station,” the minister said, noting that they have not yet chosen a type of a dam for the Roghun plant.  

“The Tajik side has already worked out a project for the construction of the piled up dam, 335 meters in height and the project has passed all kinds of examinations,” said Nurmahmadov, “By experience of the construction of the Norak hydroelectric power stations experts have made certain of safety of this kind of dam for seismic zones.”  He noted that Rusal has still eyed on a concrete dam, “but the final decision, however, has not yet been made and the final decision on this issue will be made in late February.” 

On the financing of the second stage of the Roghun plant, the minister noted that the government has been seeking investors and negotiating with international financial institutions allocation of necessary funds.  

DUSHANBE, January 25, Asia-Plus — A litigation pitting the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ) against Avaz Nazarov, whose company Ansol was the main supplier of alumina to TadAZ is ongoing in the High Court in London. 

TadAZ has accused Ansol of misappropriation and claimed that Ansol had overcharged for the supply of alumina.  TadAZ has appealed against Ansol asking to freeze Avaz Nazarov’s worldwide assets, along with those of 8 other defendants.  Nazarov has disputed TadAZ’s claims of overcharging for the supply of alumina and instead launch a counterclaim for in excess of $200m for violation of the joint venture agreement between Ansol and RusaL (Russian Aluminum).

Last week, British “Metal Bulletin” referring to the Ansol press office released a report that TadAZ had gone back on its earlier appeal for Nazarov’s assets remaining frozen. 

As it had been reported earlier, in ruling handed down on October 21 2005 at the High Court in London, Mr. Justice Blackburne overturned the injunction granted by Mr. Justice Etherton on May 13 2005 originally sought by TadAZ.  The injunction had ordered that Mr. Nazarov’s worldwide assets, along with those of 8 other defendants should be frozen, and was granted by the judge without notice to any of the defendants.

In December last year, TadAZ noted that it has additional evidences that would allow it out in effect the ruling that was overturned the ruling handed down in October, according to Metal Bulletin.  But a couple of weeks later, TadAZ changed its position.  As a result, on January 11 2005, Mr. Justice Blackburne granted the injunction ordering to unfreeze Nazarov’s assets.  

            On January 24, TadAZ’s press service issued press release noting that a court case is still in the preliminary stage and the litigation will be heard not earlier than in late 2006.  

DUSHANBE


, January 25, Asia-Plus – The 20

^th

session of the CIS council for cultural cooperation opened in


Moscow


on January 25. 

The Minister of Culture, Rajabamad Amirov, is representing


Tajikistan


at this session.  

According to information from the Ministry of Culture, the session in


Moscow


is aiming to consider a progress of implementation of a joint scientific-methodical project for activities of museums, libraries, historical-cultural reserves, preservation of cultural relics.

The session also intends to consider the possibility of the establishment of a commonwealth of related musical higher educational institutions as well as to discuss joint cinema production, according to the source.  

Participants at the meeting are also discussing a program of main events of cooperation for the period till 2010.