DUSHANBE, October 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Twenty-three new small hydropower plants with a total capacity 7,000 kW have been built in Tajikistan over the first nine months of this year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

The source says these small power plants provide with electricity 1,900 households and 15 administrative buildings.

According to him, construction of 14 more small power plants with a total capacity of 3,500 kW is under way.  These power plants are being constructed due to funds provided by the Government of Tajikistan, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Government of Germany and Barqi Tojik power holding (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan).

The source added that 258 small hydropower plants with a total capacity of more than 22,800 kW have been built in the country over the years of independence.

Meanwhile, Shodi Shabdolov, member the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Energy, Industry and Construction, told Asia-Plus Friday afternoon that more than half of small hydropower plants built in the country after 1991 are not in operation.

“The problem is that many dishonest persons who have received grants from international organizations install obsolete equipment that breaks down soon.  In Rasht district, they have even contrived to build a small power plant in the gorge, which does not have water.”

Shabdolov noted that there were many loopholes in the applicable law on application of renewable energy resources and “dishonest persons use them to get grants and loans for construction of small power plants.”

He added that a new draft law on energy and by-laws had been worked out and “they will exclude the possibility of using unfair methods for implementation of such projects.”