Power Machines is supplying turbines and generators to the plant under a US$100M contract. The plant will have four main units, each with a runner diameter of 6.36m and of 167.5MW installed capacity. The first unit was commissioned in January.
The third and fourth units are to be commissioned in mid-October and mid-January 2009, said Russian federal energy holding group Inter RAO UES, which is helping the Tajik government complete the delayed scheme.
A fifth unit is also planned to take advantage of periods of high water level, according to RAO UES.
Other companies involved in the project include hydromechanical and crane equipment manufacturer Hydrostal, construction contractors OAO ChirkeiGESstroy, OAO Zagranenergostroymontazh, Hidromontazh Trust and Zarubezhvodstroy bank.
The project is to be completed by 1 April 2009, most of two decades after work began during the Soviet era. Sangtuda-1 began in the late 1980s as one of two final plants planned for a cascade on the river Vakhsh, the other major project being Rogun. By the early 1990s only 20% of the construction works had been built, and then funding problems and local hostilities shelved the scheme.
In 2004, the leaders of Russia and Tajikistan agreed to complete the scheme. A company was set up, owned two-thirds by Russia, to undertake the outstanding works and then operate the plant. Other shareholders are the Tajikistan (16.45%), FGC UES (14.92%) and Inter RAO UES (2.25%).
The project is being completed ahead of schedule on the request of the Government of Tajikistan due to power shortages. It is to produce 2,700GWh of electricityannually, which will be used for domestic consumption and the plan has been also for exports to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and parts of Russia.
The total project cost to finish the scheme will be around US$500M, with Russia providing about of half the sum.
Inter RAO UES said that it is expected the next share issue in the owner company will reduce Russia's stake to approximately 60% and the other minor holdings will decrease too. Tajikistan is to get blocking ownership (25% + 1 share).
