DUSHANBE (Majlis press service) — Tajikistan is expected to repay a $79 mln loan to China for the construction of a power line linking the Rogun hydroelectric power plant to Dushanbe.

“This draft was discussed by deputies of the lower house of the Tajik Parliament on 28 March this year”, said Majlisi Oli Namoyandagon’s press service.

For the construction of 500 kV Rogun-Dushanbe transmission lines, the Chinese Eximbank provided $79 mln to the Government of Tajikistan, which signed the corresponding agreement in September 2017. In accordance with the document, the Tajik party has undertaken to repay the loan with interest (1.5% per year) for 25 years. It should be noted that the debt maturity is 300 months.

The Chinese company TBEA was in charge of the construction of the power transmission lines, which had already implemented several other projects in Tajikistan, including energy projects.

Two lines linking Rogun to Dushanbe, 100 km long with 402 pillars, were built and put into service last November. The lines connect the capital to Rogun through the territory of Faizabad, Vahdat, Rudaki and Varzob. The project also includes the Dushanbe-500 substation.

After the launch of the first hydraulic unit of the Rogun hydroelectric power plant on 16 November last, these lines supplied electricity to Tajikistan’s power system. However, in early March, it was reported that the operations of the commissioned unit had been temporarily suspended. The energy departments explain the decisions taken by preventive maintenance managers to ensure the proper functioning of certain parts of the hydroelectric power plant.