DUSHANBE, October 22, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Vakhsh River flooding will be blocked in early November for beginning of work on construction of the Roghun dam, Asia-Plus has learned from the source at the Ministry of Energy and Industries.

According to him, specialists are currently carrying out preparatory work on blocking the river.  “They are currently clearing two tunnels that had been damaged in the 1990s,” said the source, “These facilities are expected to have been rehabilitated by November and the work on blocking the river will start in early November when water levels in the Vakhsh River decrease.”

He added that the government had allocated 532 million somoni (equivalent to some 121.7 million U.S. dollars) for the Roghun hydroelectricity project this year.  “More than 350 million somoni of that amount have been spent by October 20,” said the source, “At least US$600 million are needed to introduced the first two units of the station into operation and more than US$2 billion are needed for introduction of all six units of the Roghun HPP into operation.”

We will recall that a statement released by president’s office announced on August 29, 2007 that Tajikistan has formally revoked a contract with Russia''s RusAl aluminum company for the construction of the Roghun HPP.  The statement explained that the cancellation of the contract also includes the annulment of the October 2004 agreement on long-term cooperation with RusAl.  According to the contract, RusAl agreed to construct the Roghun HPP, the largest such facility in Tajikistan.  The Tajik government accused the company of failing to fulfill the contract signed in 2004.

Tajik authorities and RusAL became bogged down in the hydroelectric plant''s dam model and height, crucial factors in its capacity.

In April 2008, Tajikistan founded open joint-stock company with an authorized capital of 116 million somoni for completing the construction of the Roghun station.  Tajik authorities also plan to create an international consortium to complete the construction of the Roghun power station.

The 3,600 MWt Roghun hydroelectric plant is to generate 13 billion kWh of electricity per year.  The plant''s completion would substantially increase sales of electricity to neighboring Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan.