Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Feb.1 / Trend D.Azizov /
Two transformer substations with a capacity of 125,000 KW with two high-voltage lines each bearing 220 KV with a length of 74 kilometres and 110 KV with length of 32 kilometres to provide power supply to the Dehkanabad potash fertiliser plant at Qashqadaryo Province in southern Uzbekistan, a source in Uzbekenergo told Trend on Wednesday.
The source said a feasibility study of the project has been prepared and it is planned to start the project which is worth $67.5 million in the second half of 2012.
Finance will be provided by Uzbekenergo funds to a sum of $37.5 million and a loan from the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development worth $30 million.
Expansion of the power supply system at the Dehkanabad plant is as a result of new construction of a second production unit.
It was reported earlier that Uzbek President Islam Karimov approved the feasibility study of the second production unit project at the Dehkanabad plant worth $254.7 million in Dec, 2011.
The new plant area will increase capacity by three times - up to 600,000 tons of potash per year. About 350,000 tons will be exported. The construction is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Uzhimprom has signed contracts with Russian company Western-Ural Machine Building Concern (Perm) and the Chinese CITIC International Cooperation worth $238.6 million.
The Russian firm will construct mining complex to produce 1.4 million tons of selwynite ore and use telpherage to transport 2.1 million tons of ore per year as well as having an external power supply worth $122.3 million.
The Chinese company will construct a processing complex to produce 400,000 tons of potash fertilisers per year worth $116.3 million.
China's Eximbank will allocate $110.5 million, the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development - $128.1 million and Uzbekhimprom - $16.1 million to finance the project.
The first production unit of the Dehkanabad Plant on Production of Potash Fertilizers is worth $123.7 million and with capacity of 200,000 tons of potash fertilisers per year was commissioned in September, 2010.
The plant was built on the base of the Tyubegata potassium salts deposit in Kashkadarya region bordering with Turkmenistan. Total industrial reserves hit 400.2 million tons with potassium chloride which is 36.8 per cent. The most promising part of the deposit with reserves of 200 million tons is situated in Uzbekistan.