DUSHANBE, June 1, Asia-Plus -- Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister for Water Affairs, Rasoul Zargar, arrived in Dushanbe on June 2.

According to the Tajik ministry of energy and industries (MoEI), the same day, Rasoul Zargar, heading a high-ranking delegation, visited the construction site for the Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant on the Vakhsh River, which is being built with participation of Iranian capital.

The source at a MoEI said that Rasoul Zargar today morning met with Tajik Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gulov.  In the course of the talks, the two discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran in the field of energy, including the construction of the Sangtuda-2 station.     

The source noted that the visit of the Iranian energy delegation to Tajikistan will last till June 7, and the main purpose of the visit is for the delegation to study a progress of construction of the Santuda-2 hydropower plant in Tajikistan as well as familiarize itself with projects for construction of small power plants in Tajikistan.

We will recall that during his visit to Iran in early May, President Rahmon called on high-ranking Iranian state officials to expand relations and identified the areas of hydropower, transportation, and industry as Tajikistan’s priorities for attracting greater Iranian investment.     

As it had been reported earlier, Tajik government last September endorsed a long-term program of construction of small hydropower electric plants between 2007 and 2020.  Under the program, 71 small power plants are scheduled to be built by 2020. The total capacity of the plants will be 480.571 million kWh of electricity a year. 

According to the source, during his stay in Dushanbe, Rasoul Zargar is also scheduled to discuss with high-ranking Tajik state officials the possibility of participation of Iran in construction of a 1,000 MW Shurob hydroelectric power station (HPS) on the Vakhsh River, between the Norak and being constructed Roghun power plants.