DUSHANBE, May 30, Asia-Plus  -- During a visit to the city of Roghun, President Emomali Rahmon today met with builders at the site for construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS).

Speaking at the meeting, the president noted that more than 40 percent of work had been done and $800 million had been spent so far.   

Besides, 150 heavy trucks BelAZ and KamAZ were purchased recently, according to him.

Rahmon also set task to work out the construction schedule.  According to him, the first stage of construction should be completed in the coming 4-4.5 years and the first two units of the station should be introduced into operation.  

After talking things over with former head of the RoghunGESstroy enterprises Nikolai Savchenko, President Rahmon set several specified tasks: to dam the Vakhsh River in December 2009; to spend $50 million this year and $150 million next year for implementation of the Roghun project; and the Ministry of Finance is to find additional funds for that.  

At the end of his speech, Rahmon underlined once again the importance of the Roghun HPS for Tajikistan and the region as a whole.