DUSHANBE, November 13, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan seeks international experts to conduct independent examination of the Zarafshon hydroelectricity project. 

Tajik-Uzbek talks over construction of the Zarafshon, or Yovon, hydropower plant in northern Tajikistan that were held in Tashkent last week have ended inconclusively.    

Rashid Gulov, deputy engineer-in-chief with Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) power holding, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the Uzbek side claims that introduction of the Zarafshon station into operation could affect land reclamation system in several regions of Uzbekistan, and therefore, they insist on conducting international examination of the project.  

According to him, the sides have agreed to enlist the services of any international company to conduct independent and objective analysis of the Zarafshon hydroelectricity project.  The World Bank, the Asian Development and the Islamic Development Bank are considered as potential experts, Gulov said. 

The Barqi Tojik official further added that he is sure that the Zarafshon hydroelectricity project in no way affects farming units in neighboring Uzbekistan.  

 As it had been reported earlier, a Tajik delegation, comprising representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs, energy and industries, land reclamation and water resources, as well as Barqi Tojik power holding, left for Tashkent on November 8 to hold two-day consultations with Uzbek authorities over the construction of the Zarafshon plant.  The consultations were an attempt to reach a consensus on that issue.

The meeting was a logic continuation of consultations between the two countries on rational use of water and energy resources in the region. 

We will recall that China''s Sinohydro Corporation has been granted a contract to build the Zarafshon, or Yovon, plant, which should produce some 600 million kWh of electricity a year.  The relevant contract was signed on January 17, 2007 in Beijing, on the sidelines of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon''s visit to the Chinese capital.

The project will reportedly be funded through a $200 million, low-interest Chinese loan.

Tajikistan is regularly hit by electricity shortages, and is pursuing greater self-sufficiency in the energy sector. It is largely dependent on Kyrgyz energy supplies that are transported through Uzbekistan.  According to Gulov, the Zarafshon hydropower plant could fully meet requirements of Sughd’s Panjakent district in electrical power.