DUSHANBE, October 30, Asia-Plus  -- The power-transmission line “Lolazor-Khatlon” is expected to be introduced into operation in late December, Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding top manager Sharifkhon Samiyev said.  

According to him, China’s TBEA, which has been granted the contract to construct the power grid, has to date installed more than 150 Chinese transformers. 

The grid will transmit electric power generated by the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant to the Kulob group of districts and other districts of the Khatlon province, the Barqi Tojik top manager said. 

As it had been reported earlier, the first unit of the Sangtuda-1 power stations is also expected to be introduced into operation in later December this year.      

            On the construction of the power-transmission line “South-North”, Samiyev said that it will be finished in 2009.   “South-North” electric line to be key link in electric system of the country, he said.    

A ceremony marking the beginning of the construction of a power transmission line termed the” South-North” line was held on September 16, 2006.. 

Experts say Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries of the region are interested in this electric line, because it will facilitate transmitting electricity to South Asia.  Besides, the “South-North” line will allow Tajikistan to bypass Uzbekistan in transmitting electricity to the Sughd province. 

We will recall that Barqi Tojik and TBEA signed contracts for the construction of high-voltage electricity transmission lines in Tajikistan in April 2006.  They agreed to build the 500-kW, 350-kilometer “South-North” line, linking Tajikistan''s southern and northern regions, and a 220-kW 93-kilometer line, called the “Lolazor-Khatlon” line, in the Khatlon province. 

The “South-North” line will be able to transmit up to 8 billion kWh of electricity a year; the capacity of the “Lolazor-Khatlon” line will be some 4 billion kWh of electricity a year.