DUSHANBE, August 28, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Mr. Gul Sherali, Minister of Energy and Industries of Tajikistan, and Mr. Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India, will launch the modernization of Varzob-I hydro power station tomorrow.

According to the Indian Embassy in Dushanbe, the ceremony will be attended by senior members of the Indian delegation that has accompanied the Minister for the SCO Summit, the Ambassador of India in Dushanbe, representatives from the public sector companies from India which are undertaking the modernization viz. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and senior officials of Barqi Tojik.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the modernization of Varzob-I was signed between Ministry of Energy and Industries of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India in Dushanbe in August last year and the Government of India has provided a grant of US$17 million for the implementation of this project.

This modernization will allow increase in the hydropower plant capacity from the current 2x3.67 MW to 9.4MW and its operating life would be extended by another 50 years. Varzob-I hydropower plant supplies electricity and drinking water to the city of Dushanbe.

The commencement of the work on the modernization would be yet another landmark in the developing economic relations between India and Tajikistan.