DUSHANBE, October 29, Asia-Plus  -- The possibility of participation of Kazakh investors in funding construction of the Nourobod hydropower plant in eastern Tajikistan will become known next month, Sharifkhon Samiyev, top manager of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, said.   

According to him, representatives from Kazakhstan’s limited liability company ATsPNK-519 have repeatedly visited Tajikistan to discuss with Barqi Tojik and the State Committee for Investments and Management of State-owned Property the Nourobod hydroelectricity project.   

The Barqi Tojik top manager noted that a total cost of the project is some 200 million US dollars.   

We will recall that Kazakhstan’ ATsPNK-519 has expressed wish to participate in a tender for construction of a 160 megawatt power plant on the Hingob River in the Nourobod district, eastern Tajikistan.  Representatives from the Kazakh company remarked this at a meeting with Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gul in Dushanbe on August 28.  Besides, ATsPNK-519 is also interested in participation in implemented of other energy projects in Tajikistan, including construction of power-transmission lines.   

After talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe on September 13, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the sides had agreed to set up a joint investment fund of $100 million that will be used to invest in projects in Tajikistan.  According to him, the fund will give priority to the economic areas that are of interest to both countries: electric power generation, agriculture, the mining industry, and other important spheres of the economy.  He also noted that the Investment Fund of Kazakhstan is considering participating in projects to build small power plants in Tajikistan.  He said Kazakhstan''s sustainable-development fund, Kazyna, is ready to finance the construction of the Nourobod hydroelectric power plant.