ADB to help improve Tajikistan's
power supply
Nov 19, 2008 - Asia Pulse Data Source
TASHKENT - An ageing facility in Tajikistan's
electricity supply network which is in danger of collapse
is being rehabilitated with support from the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The Nurek Hydroelectric Power
Plant produces over 70% of the country's electricity.
It also plays a key role in regulating the frequency
of power transmitted through the interlinked electricity
networks of four other Central Asian countries Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. However,
the plant's two switchyards containing equipment that
allows a transmission grid operator to clear faults
in the system and to switch off parts of the grid
to allow maintenance work to be done were built more
than 30 years ago and can no longer deliver a stable
supply of power. In addition, some areas in the switchyards
have been submerging due to unstable ground conditions,
presenting a further threat. ADB is providing a grant
of $54.77 million from its Special Funds for the Nurek
Switchyard Reconstruction Project. The funds will
be used to replace outdated equipment in the 500 kilovolt
(kV) switchyard, with new switchgear moved to a more
stable area of the plant. The Government and Barki
Tajik will provide counterpart fund of $12.1 million
for the project. The grant follows an earlier government
loan agreement under which Germany's Credit Institute
for Reconstruction, or Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau,
agreed to finance replacement equipment in the 220kV
switchyard. The proceeds of ADB's grant will be loaned
to state-owned utility, Barki Tajik Joint Stock Holding
Company, which will award a single contract for the
reconstruction work. "The project will ensure a sustainable
and reliable electricity supply to support economic
development. It will also mitigate the risk of natural
disasters disabling the switchyard and will stabilize
the flow of electricity coming from this strategically
important power plant," said Jim Liston, Principal
Energy Specialist in ADB's Central and West Asia Department.
ADB also supports the government's efforts to better
utilize the country's hydropower. At present, Tajikistan's
vast hydro resources have barely been tapped and there
is significant potential to export hydro-generated
electricity to neighboring countries that suffer from
power shortages.