DUSHANBE, September 27, 2011, Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon yesterday attended an official ceremony of introduction of a 4,300 kW hydroelectric power plant (HPP) Marzich into operation in the Ayni district, the presidential press service reports.

Construction of the plant has been financed by the Government of Tajikistan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).  A total cost of the project is some 4 million U.S. dollars.  The Marzich HPP will meet 50 percent of the district’s requirements in electrical power.

The head of state ordered relevant government bodies to consider the possibility of increasing the plant’s capacity to 10,000 kW.

In the Ayni district, President Rahmon also attended the ceremony of opening of the 220kV Khujand-Ayni power transmission line and the Ayni substation in the village of Iskodar.

Yesterday, Rahmon also visited the village of Rogh in the Kuhistoni Mastchoh district, where he got acquainted with work of local potato growers.  While addressing the meeting of the district administrators, Rahmon noted that production of potatoes in the country must reach one million tons in the coming two years.  This year, farmers are expected to produce more than 860,000 tons of potatoes, the president said.