DUSHANBE, January 8, 2014 Asia-Plus -- The first 50 MW unit of a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant being built in Dushanbe is expected to be introduced into operation at the end of this week, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT).

President Emomali Rahmon will officially unveil the first unit of Dushanbe-2 CHP plant, which is being built in the Luchob area of the capital, an official source at a MoINT said.

We will recall that the plant is being constructed within the framework of a trilateral agreement signed between the MoEI, China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co. Ltd (TBEA) and Electronic Apparatus Dushanbe Mining Co Ltd and a total capacity of this coal-powered plant will be 200 megawatt.  Monthly requirements of this facility in coal are 22,300 tons.

The second unit of the Dushaneb-2 CHP plant is expected to be introduced into operation this year.

Construction of the coal-powered plant is reportedly in compliance with Tajikistan’s environmental regulations.

Tajikistan relies almost exclusively on hydropower to generate electricity, which becomes scarce in the winter months when rivers freeze and water reservoir levels drop.

Xinjiang Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co. Ltd (TBEA) is one of the largest electrical manufacturing groups in China and the first floated stock company in Chinese A Shore Market in transmission industry of China after merging the former Hengyang Transformer Works (a large-size stated company founded in 1958 and located in Hunan province, China), and well-known for manufacturing all kinds of high voltage power transmission, transformation and distribution equipments.  Under the administration of TBEA, there are 10 large backbone factories, 5 research institutes, 6 business entities and 8 participated enterprises.