DUSHANBE/KHUJAND, January 16, 2009, Asia-Plus / -- The hydroelectric power plant (HPP) Qairoqqum, which was closed Thursday early in the morning due to an accident, is expected to resume operation today evening, Asia-Plus has learned from the Sughd energy and industries directorate Sodiq Rustamov,

According to him, the station was closed because of generator 6 trouble and flooding of turbine room.  A group of specialists is currently working to remove damage.  “It is probable that Unit 1, it is three generators, will be reintroduced into operation today evening that will allow resuming regular electricity supplies to Khujand,” Rustamov said.

In the meantime, a source at the Ministry of energy and Industries (MoEI) told Asia-Plus today that one of sic generators of the station is currently working and over the past day it has generated more than 68,000 kWh of electricity.

We will recall that according to the branch of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding for the Sughd province, the station was closed Thursday at 1:55 am.  

It is to be noted that the Qairoqqum HPP provides electricity supplies to some 30 percent of Sughd’s population.

Built in 1957, the Qairoqqum HPP with rated capacity of 126,000 KW has six generators and it is capable to generate 600-700 million kWh of electricity per year.