14 June 2004 08:22
Russia to invest in construction of Tajik power stations - power grid boss
[Presenter] A session of the CIS Energy Council has taken place in Tajikistan. Power engineers from CIS and Baltic
countries have agreed on cooperation with their colleagues from Europe. Apart from the meetings, the Russian delegation
familiarized themselves with the power system of Tajikistan, in which Russia intends to make investments.
[Correspondent] [Chairman of the board of the Unified Energy System of Russia (UES)] Anatoliy Chubays is assessing
Tajik hydroelectric power stations from a bird's eye view [flying in a helicopter]. Or rather, the buildings to be
turned into hydroelectric power stations. Russia intends to make investments in them, Chubays is ascertaining that it is
worth doing. Later it will become clear that it is.
[Chubays] The main task was to understand whether it was realistic to move in that direction. Having completed the
first stage of work, I am saying, "It is realistic".
[Correspondent] At issue is the construction of two large hydroelectric power stations, namely Sangtuda and Roghun.
Their construction began in Tajikistan in the Soviet period, but currently there is no money for it and investments are
needed. Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed about this. Chubays has discussed
the details with Rahmonov. Russia will give money for the construction of the power stations and receive shares in
exchange. The Tajik authorities do not mind, especially they have to pay their debt to Russia which amounts to hundreds
of millions dollars.
Apart from the talks with the Tajik side, the Russian power engineers took part in the meeting of the CIS Energy
Council in Rahmonov's countryside residence. The participants in the meeting have agreed to start preparations for
a synchronization of CIS and Baltic countries' energy systems with that of Europe.
[Chubays] At issue is a unique electric power association which has no equivalents in the world. There are no
synchronically operating electric power systems of such a scale on the planet.
[Correspondent] The synchronization of the power systems will enable a free flow of electric power and increase the
reliability of the unified system. The forecasts of UES experts indicate that it will be ready in two to three
years' time.
[Ren TV] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
