DUSHANBE, October 9, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Barqi Tojik power holding (Tajik electricity supplier) now owes 135.2 million somoni (equivalent to US$30.8 million) to open joint-stock company (OJSC) Sangtudinskaya GES-1 that operates the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant, according to OJSC Sangtudinskaya GES-1.

The source at Barqi Tojik says the debt is being repaid in accordance with schedule.

 According to information posted on the Sangtudinskaya GES-1 website, current price of one kWh of electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 station is US$0.0176 (VAT not included).  The company sells electricity to Barqi Tojik at this price.  Barqi Tojik is still the only buyer of electricity generated by the Sangtuda-1 station.

Barqi Tojik, for his part, sells electricity to domestic customers at rates set by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT).

In Tajikistan, current prices are 0.09 somoni (US$0.0206) for residential customers, 0.213 somoni (US$0.0487) for industrial enterprises, 0.085 somoni (US$0.0195) for federally funded institutions and public utilities industries, and 0.057 somoni (US$0.013) for pump stations and electric transport.

Russian-Tajik OJSC Sangtudinskaya GES-1 was established in February 2005 to complete the construction of the Santuda-1 power plant.  As of February 1, 2010, Tajikistan owned 15.97 percent in the company, including 0.003 percent of shares (25 shares) owned by the Government and 15.969 percent ownership interest (133,151 shares) assumed by the Ministry of Energy and Industries, and Russia’s stake in the company amounted to 84.03 percent, with 67.37 percent equity stake (561,944 shares) of Rosatom, 14.48 percent ownership interest (120,780 shares) assumed by Russia’s Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System JSC and 2.18 percent (18,216 shares) owned by Inter RAO YeES.