Tajikistan Begins Construction of New Power Line to Afghanistan

Jan 15, 2008 - BBC Monitoring Central Asia

After completing the construction of a 10- kV electric power transmission line [from eastern Tajikistan to the Afghan district of Fayzabad], the Pamirenergy company started the construction of a 0.4 kV electric power transmission line designed to provide electricity to Shognan district in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province.

Abdullo Amonbekov, PEC spokesman, has told Asia-Plus that this socially-oriented project is aimed at providing electricity to residents of the Shughnon district centre.

He said after the power transmission line is put into operation about 200 Afghan households will get Tajik electricity, later, with the extension of the power transmission line, the number of electricity consumers on the other bank of the River Panj will grow up to 500.

"The total cost of the project is 225,000 dollars," Amonbekov said. "The Afghan mobile operator Roshan, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development [AKFED], has allocated 150,000 dollars for the implementation of the project.

"The AKFED and the PEC are now negotiating with potential donors over the sponsorship of the full implementation of the project," the source said.

As was reported earlier, in line with bilateral agreements, electricity to Afghanistan through this line will be provided only in summer, when there is less demand for electricity in the Mountainous Badakhshon Autonomous Region [in the east of Tajikistan].

Originally published by Asia-Plus news agency, Dushanbe, in Russian 0832 15 Jan 08.