DUSHANBE, May 20, Asia-Plus  -- Construction of a 360kW small power plant officially commenced in Khatlon’s Baljuvon district yesterday.  

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Salohiddin Mirzoyev, the deputy director of the energy projects management unit, said that the Baljuvon small power will allow providing local residents with regular electricity supplies.      

 According to him, construction of other seven small power plants in various regions of the country is currently under way.  These projects are funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has provided $11.589 million, including funds for project and consultative services.  

“Small power plants are now being constructed in Nourobod, Ayni, Tursunzoda, Tojikobod and Jirgatol districts,” said the deputy director.  “Projects for construction of small power plants in the village of Sangikar in Rasht and the village of Toj in Shahrinav will also be launched soon.”  

The prime contractor for construction of these power plants is one of sub-divisions of Tajik-Iranian joint venture TajIr – Guharrud- Rah-e Karvan, according to Mirzoyev.  

We will recall that under a long-term national program of construction of small hydropower plants, 71 small power plants are scheduled to be built in Tajikistan by 2020.  The total capacity of the plants will be 480.571 million kWh of electricity a year.