DUSHANBE, October 26, Asia-Plus  --Issue related to participation of Russia’s state-run electrical company Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES) in completing the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) in Tajikistan will be resolved, most likely, by the end of this year, Sharifkhon Samiyev, chairman of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) power holding told journalists in Dushanbe on October 26.   

According to him, RAO YeES can participate in the implementation of the Roghun hydroelectricity project “in rather other capacity than on the construction of the Sangtuda-1 power station.”  Russia, of course, if it is interested, may participate in funding the Roghun project through tenders, according to him.   

            “Tajikistan is going to build the Roghun station on its own with support of international financial institutions,” said Samiyev, “The 3,600 MWt Roghun hydroelectric plant will generate 13 billion kWh of electricity per year and Tajikistan will be able to export electric power to Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.”  

We will recall that during his visit to Tajikistan in April this year, Andrei Rappoport told journalists in Dushanbe that Tajikistan plans to hold an international tender to finish construction of the Roghun plant.  Rappoport spoke after a meeting with President Emomali Rahmon who told him tender was being prepared.  Rappoport also said that Tajikistan does not want to continue working with Rusal (Russian Aluminum), with which it concluded an agreement in 2004 to construct the Roghun station.  The RAO YeES official said that YeES would be willing to place a bid in the tender.

On August 29, Tajikistan revoked a contract with Russia’s Rusal aluminum company for the construction of the Roghun station.  The cancellation of the contract also included the annulment of the October 2004 agreement on long-term cooperation with Rusal.   

             On the construction of the Sangtuda-2 power plant, construction of which is funded by Iran, Samiyev said that Iranian energy minister is expected to visit Tajikistan in November.  Construction of the Sangtuda-2 station will focus his discussions with Tajik officials in Dushanbe.