DUSHANBE, July 28, Asia-Plus -- Statement by Deputy Energy and Industries Minister, Poulod Muhiddinov, that Uzbekistan allegedly impedes construction of the Zarafshon hydroelectric power station (HPS) is unfounded, Sharifkhon Samiyev, the head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 26.  

On July 25, speaking to journalists, Muhiddinov noted that construction of Zarafshon HPS has not yet started.  “One may form the impression that China’s Sinohydro Corporation that has been awarded a contract to build this plant does not want to construct,” said the deputy minister, “The trace of Uzbekistan is found here; Uzbekistan does not want Tajikistan to build power plants on the Zarafshon River.”  

Commenting on this statement, the Barqi Tojik top manager noted that Muhiddinov does not have any grounds to say to.  “We have cooperated with our Uzbek colleagues for many years and I have never noticed that they do not want to cooperate with us.  Moreover, before accusing anybody, we have to take note of our shortcomings,” Samiyev said.   

In the meantime, Georgy Petrov, the head of the hydropower laboratory at the Institute for Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of Tajik Academy of Sciences, told a meeting with journalists at Republican Press Center on July 27 that Uzbekistan comes out against construction of hydropower facilities in Tajikistan.  According to him, he has made such a conclusion from articles published in media.  

 We will recall that a contract with Sinohydro Corporation on construction of the Zarafshon HPS was signed on January 17 in Beijing, on the sidelines of President Emomali Rahmon''s visit to the Chinese capital.  The project is reportedly funded through a $200 million, low-interest Chinese loan.  The Zarafshon plant should produce some 600 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

Tajikistan is regularly hit by electricity shortages, and is pursuing greater self-sufficiency in the energy sector.  It is largely dependent on Kyrgyz energy supplies that are transported through Uzbekistan.