DUSHANBE, February 21, Asia-Plus - Issues related to a progress of the construction of Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant in Tajikistan and further financing of the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric project are being discussed in Washington today.    

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Dushanbe Office, the meeting will bring together representatives from ADB, the World Bank (WB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Russia’s Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES) and Tajikistan. 

The Deputy Prime Minister, Asadullo Ghulomov, heads Tajik delegation participating at the meeting.  The delegation includes Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gulov and Sirojiddin Saidov, the deputy head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding.  

“The meeting is aiming to consider a progress of the construction of the Sangtuda-1 hydropower station, in particular further financing of the construction of this hydropower facility,” said the source, “It cannot be ruled out that the sides will also touch upon the issue of drumming up investments for the construction of a 220 kV open distributing facility at this station.”  

In the meantime, according to the directorate for the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric project, the meeting will also consider the issue of the construction of a power-transmission line from Tajikistan to Afghanistan.  “This line will probably transmit electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 station,” said the source, “The possibility of their discussing the issue of increasing the line voltage from 500 kV to 1,000 kV cannot be ruled out.”  The estimated budget for the construction of this transmission line is more than $1 billion, according to the source.