DUSHANBE, April 19, Asia-Plus -- Russian Aluminum (RusAl) and Tajikistan’s Government have made a decision on conduct by the World Bank of examination of main parameters of a feasibility study for completing the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station in Tajikistan, according to information from the RusAl representative office in Dushanbe.

Aleksandr Kasatkin, a spokesman for the RusAl representative office in Dushanbe , has told Asia-Plus that such a decision was made at a meeting of the Tajik-Russian commission for economic and trade cooperation that was held in Dushanbe on April 13.  

Participants at the meeting discussed a progress of implementation of RusAl-sponsored projects in Tajikistan , including completion of the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant.  

“Under agreements reached independent company recommended by the World Bank will carry out examination the feasibility study for completing the construction of Roghun plant conducted by Germany’s Lehmeyer International as well as rated parameters of the feasibility study prepared by “Tashgidroproyekt” Institute (Uzbekistan) in 2000 and parameters proposed by Lehmeyer International,” Kasatkin said, noting that the examination will be completed by June 15 2006.  

According to him, the examination will allow taking into consideration proposals of the sides and choosing the variant ensuring observance of interests of all sides participating in the project. 

“RusAl and Tajikistan ’s Energy Minister consider that on the construction of such complicated hydropower facilities additional examination, especially with enlisting the services of authoritative international organization such as the World Bank is guarantee of safety of future technical decisions and evidence of interest of the sides in selection of the best variant of decision on the project,” Mr. Kasatkin noted. 

The examination’s results will be considered at the next meeting of the Tajik-Russian commission for economic cooperation that will be held in Dushanbe in the summer this year.    

“On completion of the examination by the World Bank, RusAl and the Government of Tajikistan will launch a joint venture with equal ownership shares (50%x50%) for realization of the construction and further management of the Roghun power plant,” RusAl representation’s spokesman said.