Dushanbe: Tajik, Afghan and Iranian power engineers have signed a treaty on the feasibility study of a project for the construction of a high-voltage power transmission line from Tajikistan to Iran through Afghan territory, and have chosen a prime contractor, Avesta has been told by the Tajik Energy and Industry Ministry.

Power engineers from the three countries have unanimously opted for the Iranian Munashir [name transliterated] company as the prime contractor to carry out the feasibility study. The prime contractor, jointly with another Iranian company, Tavanir, with which a cooperation agreement has already been signed, will start the feasibility study of the project in April this year. In line with documents, all work in this direction should be done by the end of October this year. A map of the future power line, which will pass through the territories of three states, has already been drawn up. The Tajik and Afghan experts are tasked with providing the prime contractor with full information. In line with the new map, the high-voltage power line will start at the Sangtuda hydroelectric power station [in the south of Tajikistan]. Tajik experts say a unified energy ring will be created on the territory of Tajikistan, and the Regar, Norak and Roghun substations will be switched to the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power station. The Energy and Industry Ministry also said that a tripartite meeting would be held in Iran in November this year, to agree on the dates for the start of work and completion of the project and on financial resources. The sides have approved the capacity of the high-voltage power line, Sangtuda-Mazar-e Sharif-Mashhad, - it will be 500 kW.

Meanwhile, a government delegation led by the Tajik deputy prime minister, Asadullo Ghulomov, has left for Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power station on a fact-finding mission and to speed up work at the facility.

Source: Avesta website, Dushanbe, in Russian 0852 gmt 20 Mar 07 BBC Mon CAU 200307 ta/as

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