Tajikistan and Kazakhstan discussed the issue of exporting electricity from the Rogun HPP through the territory of Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev held talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Usmonali Usmonzoda and Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistam Manuchehr Safarzoda, during which the parties discussed various aspects of cooperation in the field of electric power industry.
It was noted that in 2023, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides for the supply of electricity generated by the Rogun HPP for the period from 2023 to 2032.
“I am pleased to note the consideration of the technical parameters and commercial conditions of possible export of electricity from the Rogun HPP to Kazakhstan, planned within the framework of the Memorandum, taking into account the availability of technical capabilities and agreed modes of energy transit through the networks of Uzbekistan,” – said Satkaliyev.
The parties agreed to work out the possibility of concluding agreements with interested organizations on the settlement of unplanned electricity flows between the power systems of Central Asia by October 15, 2024.
It should be recalled that the existence of agreements on the supply of electricity to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is one of the conditions for external financing of the Rogun HPP project.
A recent Justification for Tajikistan’s sovereign rating, presented by the international rating agency Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings, indicated that the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan is negotiating with a consortium of multilateral and bilateral creditors to provide a financing package that will cover about 50% of the project costs. The rest of the financing is expected from the state budget and revenues received from the hydroelectric power plant under construction.
S&P analysts emphasize that the preliminary package of external financing includes $1.73 billion in the form of semi–public loans, $850 million in grants and $390 million in the form of concessional loans. External financing will become available after Tajikistan completes the preparation of electricity supply agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
As previously reported, the government of Tajikistan expects to allocate 5 billion somoni (about $460 million) for the implementation of the Rogun project this year, including 2.8 billion somoni from budget funds and 2.2 billion somoni from investment projects. In the first 9 months of this year, 4.3 billion somoni (about $395 million) were allocated for the construction of Rogun.
Rogun HPP with an installed capacity of 3,600 MW will become the largest hydroelectric power plant in Central Asia. After full commissioning, the annual volume of electricity generation will be from 13 to 17 billion kWh, which is equivalent to 65-85% of the annual electricity generation in the country.
6 units with a capacity of 600 MW each will be installed in the engine room of the station. The launch of the last unit is expected in 2029.
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