World Bank to finance environmental study of Rogun hydropower plant.

10/3 Tass 178

DUSHANBE, March 10 (Itar-Tass) -- The World Bank will finance
independent international ecological examination of the Rogun hydropower
plant, World Bank's regional director for Central Asia Motoo Konishi told
journalists on Wednesday.

According to Konishi, the feasibility study of the Rogun project and
the examination of its environmental impact on other countries of the
region will be carried out at the request of the Tajik authorities. It
will take from 12 to 18 months to select a contractor for the expert
works, to conduct feasibility and other studies, he noted.
The Tajik president insisted that the World Bank submit expert opinion
results to the authorities of neighbouring Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan, Konishi said.
Over past few years, Uzbekistan has urged for an environmental impact
study of the 3,600-megawatt Rogun hydroelectric power plant construction
project. It was concerned over lack of security guarantees of the project
in the earthquake prone area.
In case of positive opinion of international experts, the World Bank
will provide some 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in financial aid to the
international consortium engaged in the construction of the Rogun power
plant, the World Bank official said. Currently, the construction is
financed from the Tajik budget and through the sale of Rogun plant shares
to the population.
According to Konishi, during his meeting with President Emomali
Rakhmon, they agreed to continue construction works under relevant control
from the World Bank while the project is under expert examination.
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