DUSHANBE, June 29, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- 14 small hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) with a total capacity of 529 kW have been introduced into operation in Tajikistan this year so far, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

The source at a MoEI says construction of 25 other small HPPs is under way. In all, 30 small HPPs are expected to be introduced into operation this year and 30 other small HPPs will be introduced into operation in 2011.

“25 other small HPPS with a total capacity of 11.2 megawatt are under construction: six of them are being built in Khatlon province, three in Sughd province, eight in Gorno Badakhshan and eight others in districts subordinate to the center,” the source said.

We will recall that under the 2009-2020 program for construction of small HPPs adopted by the government on February 2, 2009, 189 small HPPs are expected to be built in the country with support of local and foreign investors.