DUSHANBE, April 15, 2013, Asia-Plus -  The second and last unit of the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan is expected to be unveiled within the next twenty days.

“Preparation works are nearing completion and the second unit of the plant will be introduced into the operation in the near future,” Mr. Sayed Asghari, head of the office of Iran’s Sangab in Tajikistan told Asia-Plus in an interview.

Meanwhile, Barqi Tojik (Tajik state electricity supplier) now owes some 50 million somoni (equivalent to some 12.5 million USD).  “Repayment of the debt is carried out in accordance with schedule,” Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik noted.

We will recall that the first unit of the plant was introduced into operation on September 5, 2011.  Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a joint ceremony to unveil the Sangtuda-2 dam and power plant.  

Construction of Sangtuda-2, a 220-megawatt plant on the Vakhsh River, officially commenced in February 2006.  It is located some 120 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.

Iran, which has put some 180 million U.S. dollars into the construction of the hydropower station, will operate it for the next 12 years and then transfer control to Tajikistan, whose contribution to the construction costs amounted to around 40 million U.S. dollars.

The power plant is expected to help alleviate power shortages in Tajikistan during autumn-winter period.