Iran to build a hydropower plant in Tajikistan
Iran has signed a trilateral agreement with Tajikistan and Afghanistan for the construction of Sangtuda-2 power plant in Tajikistan and the distribution of electricity from Tajikistan to Iran (via Afghanistan). The power plant is supposed to provide additional 1bln kWt/h of electricity generation capacity to Tajikistan and will mainly be financed by Iranian money (US$180 vs. US$40 by Tajik government). According to the terms of the agreement the profits of the power plant will go to the Iranian government for 12.5 years after which the ownership of the power plant will be transferred to the Tajik government. Sangtuda-2 is expected to be up and running in 3-3.5 years.
on February 22nd, 2006 at 10:56 pm
How much added regional clout do you think this will give Tajikistan?
on February 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm
it is hard to measure the clout at this point when nothing is built, but I think it should be substantial in an optimistic scenario. Afghanistan will need power to rebuild itself. I know that the country is getting a lot of money from for this purpose (though it is tough to tell who gets to spend it and on what).
Tajikistan is blessed with huge resources of fresh water, which are needed for irrigation and could used for generation of electricity. The operating costs of dambs is close to nothing so these babies will be cash cows provided that the electricity gets to those who are willing to pay for it.
That should definitely add something to country’s regional clout.