DUSHANBE, March 27, Asia-Plus - Specialists from China’s Sinohydro has conducted the preliminary feasibility study for the construction of the Zarafshon hydropower plant in northern Tajikistan.  

According to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, the Zarafshon hydroelectricity project will be funded through a low-interest loan provided by China’s Exim (Export/Import) Bank.  

The source at Barqi Tojik noted that Tajik Ministry of Finance (MoF) and China’s Exim Bank are expected to sign a loan agreement already in April this year.  “Under international norms, the implementation of the project will start 90 days after the loan agreement is signed,” the source said.  

We will recall that China''s Sinohydro Corporation has been awarded a contract to build a large hydroelectric plant in northern Tajikistan.  The relevant contract was signed on January 17 in Beijing, on the sidelines of Tajik President Emomali Rahom''s visit to China.  

Rashid Gulov, deputy engineer-in-chief with Barqi Tojik, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that under the agreement the Chinese side will provide a preferential loan of $200 million for implementing this project.  According to him, the loan carries a 25-year term and an interest rate of 1 percent per annum.   

The Zarafshon plant will have capacity of 150 megawatt and be able to produce some 600 million kWh of electricity a year.

Sinohydro plans to construct the plant in 36 months.  The project also includes the construction of a 220-kilovolt 60-kilometer power-transmission line from the HPS to sub-station Rudaki in the city of Panjakent for providing regular electricity supplies to the city.   

 Sinohydro Corporation is the largest water conservancy and hydropower industry company in China, with a registration capital of US$242 million.  It has 20 wholly owned subsidiaries, four holding companies, 16 overseas divisions, and about 35,000 technical and management staff.  Sinohydro has annual production capabilities of approximately 150 million cubic meters of earthwork, 150,000 cubic meters of concrete placing, 8000mw of power generation equipment installation, and 100,000 tons of steel works fabrication and installation.  It specializes in: investment, project financing, consulting, construction, mechanical and electrical plant manufacturing and installation, construction equipment manufacturing, and trading in the industries of water conservancy, power generation, transportation, public utilities, and building.