DUSHANBE, July 5, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Construction works on main and associated facilities of the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) have practically been competed, according to the Iranian Sangab Company that is building the plant.

Construction of the dam for the plant is also nearing completion, the source said.

We will recall that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namju on November 28, 2010 pressed buttons that detonated explosives, blocking the Vakhsh River for construction the dam. 

“Some 80 percent of equipment intended for the first two units of the plant have already been delivered to Tajikistan,” said the source.  “At preset there no any problems that could hamper the completion of the construction of the plant.”

We will recall that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon promised at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Istanbul in December 2010 that the first turbine at Sangtuda-2 will begin producing electricity in 2011.

Construction of Sangtuda-2, a 220-megawatt plant on the Vakhsh River, officially commenced in February 2006.  It is located some 100 kilometers south of Dushanbe.  Iran has invested US$180 million and Tajikistan US$40 million in the project.  Once the power station is built, all the revenue over the next 12.5 years will go to the investor and Tajikistan will become the owner of Sangtuda-2 after this period expires.