DUSHANBE, November 7, Asia-Plus  -- The first stage of repair-and-renewal operations at the Yovon heat station has practically been completed and the first unit of the station will be put into operation within the next few days, press released issued by Tajik Aluminum Company (formerly Tajik Aluminum Plant or TadAZ) said.

Talco has pledged itself to rehabilitate the Yovon heat station and make it ready for operation. 

Sayohat Qodirova, a spokeswoman for Talco, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that $6 million had been spent for implementation of the first stage of repair-and-renewal operations.

The Yovon heat station has stood idle for more than ten years and required major repairs, the spokeswoman said.  

According to her, to extend its energy supply sources Talco intends to invest more than 13 million US dollars in introduction of new technologies at the Yovon heat station.  

We will recall that speaking at an October 8 government session, Deputy Prime Minister, Asadullo Ghulomov, noted that work on increasing capacities of the Dushanbe heat plant and rehabilitation of the Yovon heat plant had been speeded up.    “The first unit of the Yovon heat plant will be put into operation this year and by 2009, its capacity will have been brought to 300 megawatt,” the deputy prime minister said.