Sangtuda 1 Hydroelectric Power Plant
Encyclopedia
Sangtuda 1 Hydroelectric Power Plant is a hydroelectric power plant, located on the Vakhsh River
in Tajikistan
. Construction commenced during the Soviet
period in the 1980s, but halted in the beginning of the 1990s due to lack of financing when the station was about 20% complete. An agreement with Russia
allowed to restart the construction, with four units entering service in 2008–2009. The plant was officially commissioned on 31 July 2009. Once working at full capacity, the plant will provide around 12% of Tajikistan's electricity output.
, the resulting halt of financing, as well as the Civil War in Tajikistan interrupted the construction for over a decade. In 1996, the government set up a company for the construction of the power plant and issued public shares. However, the company did not start operating and was liquidated when a deal with Russia was signed.
In October 2004, an intergovernmental agreement was signed by Russia and Tajikistan to complete the project. In January 2005, Russia, Tajikistan and Iran
signed a protocol according to which Russia would participate in construction of Sangtuda 1 and Iran in construction of Sangtuda 2 power plants. On 16 February 2005, a joint Russian-Tajik company Sangtudinskaya GES-1 was established. Construction resumed in April 2005.
The first unit entered service ahead of schedule on 20 January 2008 during the unusually harsh winter, with temperatures dipping below -20 °C, which put the Tajik energy system on the brink of collapse. The second and third units entered service on 1 July 2008, and 15 November 2008, respectively. The fourth and final unit was brought online on 15 May 2009. On 31 July 2009, the plant was officially commissioned, with the presidents of Russia and Tajikistan Dmitry Medvedev
and Emomalii Rahmon participating in the event.
region, 160 kilometres (99.4 mi) south of Dushanbe
. It consist of four units with total capacity of 670 MW and producing 2.7 TWh electricity per year. The construction cost US$720 million. Russian government and companies has 75% of shares and Tajikistan has 25% plus one share. The power plant is operated by Sangtudinskaya GES-1, a company controlled by Inter RAO UES
. Director of the company is Vladimir Belov.
As of 2010, all electricity is sold to Barqi Tojik
, a national electricity company of Tajikistan. There are plans to construct a high-voltage power transmission line to Kyrgyzstan
, Iran, Afghanistan
, and Pakistan
for the electricity export. Sangtuda—Puli Khumri 220 kV transmission line to Afghanistan was scheduled to be completed in 2010.
with participation of the Russian companies, including Power Machines
, Chekhov Gidrostal Plant, ChirkeyGESstroy, Zarubezhvodstroy, Zagranenergostroymontazh, and Trust Gidromontazh. Both the Tajik and the Russian presidents have noted that the project has contributed significantly to strengthening the relations between the two countries
.
, are concerned that construction of large hydroelectric plants within the headwaters of the region's rivers will result in shortages of water downstream. Withdrawal of Uzbekistan from the Central Asian unified power system cut also Tajikistan off from the system and blocked electricity export via Uzbek to southern Kazakhstan. Because of this, the plant can't utilize its full capacity. Rail traffic blockade by Uzbekistan had delayed construction of transmission lines from the plant to to Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Vakhsh River
The Vakhsh has been intensively developed for human use. Electricity, aluminum, and cotton are the mainstays of Tajikistan’s economy, and the Vakhsh is involved with all three of these sectors. Hydroelectricity provides 91% of the country’s electricity as of 2005, and 90% of that total comes from...
in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
. Construction commenced during the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
period in the 1980s, but halted in the beginning of the 1990s due to lack of financing when the station was about 20% complete. An agreement with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
allowed to restart the construction, with four units entering service in 2008–2009. The plant was officially commissioned on 31 July 2009. Once working at full capacity, the plant will provide around 12% of Tajikistan's electricity output.
History
Plans to build the power plant were made during the 1970s, with the actual construction commencing in 1989. Dissolution of the Soviet UnionDissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, the resulting halt of financing, as well as the Civil War in Tajikistan interrupted the construction for over a decade. In 1996, the government set up a company for the construction of the power plant and issued public shares. However, the company did not start operating and was liquidated when a deal with Russia was signed.
In October 2004, an intergovernmental agreement was signed by Russia and Tajikistan to complete the project. In January 2005, Russia, Tajikistan and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
signed a protocol according to which Russia would participate in construction of Sangtuda 1 and Iran in construction of Sangtuda 2 power plants. On 16 February 2005, a joint Russian-Tajik company Sangtudinskaya GES-1 was established. Construction resumed in April 2005.
The first unit entered service ahead of schedule on 20 January 2008 during the unusually harsh winter, with temperatures dipping below -20 °C, which put the Tajik energy system on the brink of collapse. The second and third units entered service on 1 July 2008, and 15 November 2008, respectively. The fourth and final unit was brought online on 15 May 2009. On 31 July 2009, the plant was officially commissioned, with the presidents of Russia and Tajikistan Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
and Emomalii Rahmon participating in the event.
Description
The Sangtuda 1 Hydroelectric Power Plant is located on the Vakhsh River in KhatlonKhatlon
Khatlon Province , sometimes misspelt Khatlan, one of the three provinces of Tajikistan and is the most populous of the four first level administrative regions. It is situated in the southwest of the country, between the Hisor Range in the north and the Panj River in the south and borders on...
region, 160 kilometres (99.4 mi) south of Dushanbe
Dushanbe
-Economy:Coal, lead, and arsenic are mined nearby in the cities of Nurek and Kulob allowing for the industrialization of Dushanbe. The Nurek Dam, the world's highest as of 2008, generates 95% of Tajikistan's electricity, and another dam, the Roghun Dam, is planned on the Vakhsh River...
. It consist of four units with total capacity of 670 MW and producing 2.7 TWh electricity per year. The construction cost US$720 million. Russian government and companies has 75% of shares and Tajikistan has 25% plus one share. The power plant is operated by Sangtudinskaya GES-1, a company controlled by Inter RAO UES
Inter RAO UES
Inter RAO UES is a Russian energy company engaged in power generation and electricity trading. It has electricity export and import monopoly in Russia.- History :...
. Director of the company is Vladimir Belov.
As of 2010, all electricity is sold to Barqi Tojik
Barqi Tojik
Barqi Tojik is a national integrated power company of Tajikistan. Chairman of the company is Abdullo Yorov....
, a national electricity company of Tajikistan. There are plans to construct a high-voltage power transmission line to Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, Iran, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for the electricity export. Sangtuda—Puli Khumri 220 kV transmission line to Afghanistan was scheduled to be completed in 2010.
Significance
Launching of the plant is a significant milestone in achieving energy independence for Tajikistan, as the country had experienced severe energy shortages ever since it acquired independence. The plant provides around 12% of Tajikistan's electricity output. The plant is the largest project within the Commonwealth of Independent StatesCommonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
with participation of the Russian companies, including Power Machines
Power Machines
OJSC "Power Machines" is a Russian energy systems machine-building company founded in 2000...
, Chekhov Gidrostal Plant, ChirkeyGESstroy, Zarubezhvodstroy, Zagranenergostroymontazh, and Trust Gidromontazh. Both the Tajik and the Russian presidents have noted that the project has contributed significantly to strengthening the relations between the two countries
Russia–Tajikistan relations
Russia–Tajikistan relations is the bilateral relationship between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.Both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation-External links: -Diplomatic missions:...
.
Controversies
In 1996, public shares of the company for the construction of the power plant were issued. After dissolving this company it remained unclear how the owners of shares are to be compensated. Some of Tajikistan's neighbours, especially UzbekistanUzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, are concerned that construction of large hydroelectric plants within the headwaters of the region's rivers will result in shortages of water downstream. Withdrawal of Uzbekistan from the Central Asian unified power system cut also Tajikistan off from the system and blocked electricity export via Uzbek to southern Kazakhstan. Because of this, the plant can't utilize its full capacity. Rail traffic blockade by Uzbekistan had delayed construction of transmission lines from the plant to to Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.