Issues of Barki Tojik state energy holding's debt payments to Sangtuda-2 HPP have been discussed at the meeting of Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi with Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Aliasgari Sherdust in Dushanbe, Avesta news agency reported.
The debt problem was discussed in light of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Tajikistan in March this year.
It was noted that the Tajik Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the issue of Barki Tojik's debt to Sangtuda-2 HPP will be resolved before the Iranian leader's arrival.
As Avesta reported, the Ambassador's meeting with Hamrokhon Zarifi was held in the Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan a few days ago and the sides discussed Barki Tojik's debt to Sangtuda-2 HPP.
According to the Iranian embassy's information cited by Ozodi radio, the state energy holding's debt to Sangtuda-2 HPP is about $12 million
"We are really in debt to Sangtuda-2 HPP. The debt is paid off in instalments and there are no serious problems between us," Barki Tojik spokesman Nozirdzhon Yodgori told Avesta.
In turn, according to the ITAR-TASS head of Barki Tojik confessed the existence of the debt to Sangtuda-2 HPP.
"We confess the existing debt to a specified tune, but Barki Tojik currently does not have even nominal funds for the repayment," Yorov said.
He said "concrete steps are being taken to resolve the problem and the holding will most likely have to seek help from the government."
It should be reminded that the construction of Sangtuda-2 HPP officially began on February 20, 2006. Iran allocated $180 million for the construction of Sangtuda-2 and the Tajik side's share in the project was $40 million.
Revenue from the hydropower plant will belong to Iran within 12.5 years after its commissioning. Following the expiration of this period, the facility will be passed under the auspices of Tajikistan.
The first Sangtuda-2 HPP unit was launched in September 2011. The second will be commissioned in late March this year.
According to the project, the capacity of the first unit is 110 MW and the annual output is about 500 million kw/h of electricity.
After full commissioning, Sangtuda-2 HPP will be capable of producing up to one billion kW/h of electricity or 220 MW.