DUSAHNBE, May 12, Asia-Plus -- A meeting to discuss measures to speed up the construction of “Sangtuda-1” hydropower plant in Tajikistan was held in the site for the plant on May 12, according to information from the Ministry of Energy. 

The source says the deputy head of Unified Energy Systems of Russia (RAO YeES) Vyacheslav Voronin, senior representatives from the “Barqi Tojik” (Tajik electric system) opened joint-stock holding company and companies working on the construction of the station by contract attended the meeting.  

The meeting summed up the results of work carried out on the construction of Sangtuda-1 station since the beginning of this year.  During the meeting it was noted that some contractor companies were behind the schedule at least by two months.  To date, almost 40 percent of a total volume of works have been reached, according to the source.   

Under protocol signed in Dushanbe in January last year Russia is completing the construction of Tajikistan’s Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power on the Vakhsh River, some 120 kilometers east of Dushanbe.  The construction of the Sangtuda-1 station officially commenced on April 15, 2005.  The 670MWt Sangtuda-1 station will be capable to generate 2.7 billion kWh of electricity a year.  The estimated budget for the implementation of this project is US$482 million, and ownership shares are assessed as follows: RAO YeES owns 75 percent and Tajikistan – 25 percent.  

The station should be finished in four years, by April 15 2009.