Iran to build 170 megawatt HPP in Tajikistan
DUSHANBE. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Iran will build the Aini hydropower plant with a 170-megawatt capacity in Tajikistan and is exploring the possibility of investing in the Nurabad HPP's two 350-megawatt phases, Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ali Asghar Sherdust told journalists on Thursday.
"The implementation of the Aini HPP project will start shortly after the commissioning of the Sangtuda HPP-2 slated for this September," he said.
The Sangtuda-2 dam will have a height of 31 meters and two power units.
The HPP's rated capacity is 220 megawatts. The project is worth around $220 million, including $180 of Iranian investment.
Under an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries, after the HPP commissioning Iran will be getting proceeds from electricity distribution during a 12.5 year period, following which the HPP will become 100% property of Tajikistan.
"Iran is considering Tajikistan's proposals to take part in the projects to build the Nurabad HPP-1 and HPP-2," the Iranian diplomat said.
The cascade of the Aini HPP, Nurabad-1 and Nurabad-2 is due to be built on the Zeravshan river in northwestern Tajikistan. Zeravshan is a tributary to the Amu Darya river. In 2009, China planned to build the Nuraba HPP-1 by investing $560 million in construction but then dropped its plans because of the neighboring Uzbekistan. Each of the Nurabad HPP phases has a rated capacity of 350 megawatts.
Tashkent opposes the HPP construction on transborder rivers, fearing this would reduce the outflow drain of the Amu Darya river and thus have an adverse effect on the country's agriculture. Dushanbe says these accusations are baseless and politically motivated.
Iran is Tajikistan's fifth biggest trade partners, taking up 5.2% of the republic's foreign trade. In 2010, trade between Iran and Tajikistan rose by 58.1% to $201.8 million on the previous year.
Iran is the third biggest investor in Tajikistan after Russia and China.