KHUJAND, October 29, 2009, Asia-Plus /Mavlouda Rafiyeva/ -- Representatives from China’s Theban Electric Apparatus Stock (TBEA), which has been building the South-North power grid, have applied to a police department in Sughd’s Zafarobod district over loss of 175 kilograms of metal angle pieces for fastening the grid’s pylons in the district.

According to the Sughd police directorate, unidentified persons stole the angle pieces for a total amount of 2,182 U.S. dollars on the territory of the Jomi settlement in Zafarobod yesterday.  “Local prosecutor’s office has instituted criminal proceedings on the theft charge and an investigation is under way,” the source said.

We will recall that the substation “Khujand” in Sughd’s Ghonchi district is expected to be introduced into operation on November 1 this year that will allow residents of northern Tajikistan receiving electricity from the south of Tajikistan.  Specialists say that electric power generated by the Sughd province in autumn-winter period is enough to meet only 30 percent of the province’s requirements in electricity.

In April 2006, Tajikistan''s national electric power company, Barqi Tojik, signed deals with a Chinese company, Theban Electric Apparatus Stock, to build two power transmission lines in Tajikistan -- a 350-kilometer power line, linking the country''s south to the north, and another 95-kilometer line in the Khatlon province.  China Eximbank has provided 95 percent of the combined US$340 million cost of the projects and the remaining 5 percent has been provided by the Tajik government.  The cost of the South-North power grids project is 281.3 million U.S. dollars.