DUSHANBE, November 7, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Specialists from Chengdu Hydroelectric Investigation and Design Institute, China, have started conducting feasibility study for construction of the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) Nourobod-2, according to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding.    

As it had been reported earlier, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on construction of the Nourobod-2 HPP on the Khingob River in eastern Tajikistan was signed by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) and China’s Sinohydro Corporation in Dushanbe on August 27.  The sides also expressed readiness to cooperate in implementing projects aimed at enhancement of Tajikistan’s energy sector and jointly conduct feasibility studies for construction of hydropower facilities in Tajikistan.  

Under the document, Chinese company undertakes to design and construct Nourobod-2 HPP on a turn-key basis, including double-circuit 220-KV line from 220‑kV-Switchyard the Nourobod-2 HPP to 220‑kV-Switchyard the Nourobod HPP.  The estimated budget for construction of the station will be determined after completion and examination of the feasibility study.  In the meantime, according to some source, the preliminary cost of the project is $200 million.  

The Nourobod-2 station that will have the rated capacity of 200 megawatt and will generate 740 million kWh of electrical power per year is supposed to be constructed some 23 kilometers of the Khingob mouth. 

“Chinese specialists should complete the feasibility study by the end of this year and the station is scheduled to be finished in 3½ years,” the Barqi Tojik source said.