DUSHANBE, September 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian aluminum giant RUSAL is investing more than $1 billion in the construction of the Rogunskaya hydroelectric power plant in Tajikistan, the industry and energy minister said Monday.
"This project is a step in the joint exploration of water resources and RUSAL is investing more than a billion dollars in the construction of the plant," Viktor Khristenko said.
According to Khristenko, the construction of the Rogunskaya plant and Sangtuda 1 and 2 plants would allow Tajikistan to increase its annual electric power output from 16 to 34 billion kilowatts and to export surplus energy to South Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
The plant is being constructed 110 kilometers east of the Tajik capital of Dushanbe. When the plant hits full operating capacity, it will have a 13.3 billion-kWh per year output. The launch of the first stage is planned for December 2009.
