The construction of the Sanobod Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Rushan District of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region will allow the export of excess electricity abroad
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The construction of the Sanobod Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Rushan District of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region will allow the export of excess electricity abroad, particularly to northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, said Daler Juma, the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Asia Plus reports.
During the presentation of the project for the construction of a modular substation with a capacity of 110/35/10 kV in the administrative center of the Rushan District, the minister stated that “major energy projects are beginning in the region.”
The substation under construction, financed by the European Union, will transform the Rushan District into a hub for electricity distribution in the region.
He concluded that the substation “will contribute to providing electricity to new industrial enterprises and the population of the Rushan District.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Alisher Mirzonabot, stated during the event that the region is better supplied with electricity compared to other regions of the country.
He emphasized that the construction of the Sanobod Hydroelectric Power Plant, with a projected capacity of 500 megawatts, “will be a significant step towards the industrialization of the region.”
“This year, we plan to construct and put into operation 50 industrial enterprises, which must be provided with electricity,” Mirzonabot added.
Previously, in 2015, after the signing of a memorandum on the construction of the Sanobod Hydroelectric Power Plant between the government of Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Foundation, it was reported that the capacity of the future station, according to preliminary calculations, would be from 100-125 MW, which is accordingly 4-5 times lower than the declared capacity of 500 MW by the head of the region.
However, currently, only three hydroelectric power plants in Tajikistan have higher projected capacities: the Nurek HPP (3000 MW), the Sangtuda HPP-1 (670 MW), and the Baipazin HPP (600 MW).
The management of the power system of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, which operates autonomously from the power system of Tajikistan, will be handled by the international company “Pamir Energy” based on a concession agreement with the government of Tajikistan until the end of 2027.
At present, the total production capacity of the stations under the management of “Pamir Energy” is approximately 50 MW. Consumers in other regions of Tajikistan have been receiving electricity in limited amounts (8-10 hours per day) since the end of September last year. Since the end of February, residents of the capital have also faced restrictions.
Read: Central Asian countries increase electricity generation
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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on March 15, 2024)
