Russia, Tajikistan agree on Sangtudin plant, delay Rogun project.

DUSHANBE, July 31 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and Tajikistan on Thursday
agreed to jointly operate the Sangtudin hydro power plant, but the issue
of Rogun plant construction remained unresolved because of Uzbek concerns.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and Tajik First Deputy
Prime Minister Asadullo Gulomov signed an intergovernmental agreement on
joint operation of the Sangtudin plant on the sidelines of President
Dmitry Medvedev's visit.
Medvedev said "it is a major and strong project that will link our
peoples for long and many years and will be mutually beneficial".
Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach said the
project is to pay back in 20 years or earlier.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko said "the parties
confirmed their interest in further development of hydropower facilities
on the territory of Tajikistan" and Klepach added Russia is also
interested in the construction of the Rogun plant. However "inter-state
agreements are necessary", as the project causes concerns of neighboring
Uzbekistan, he said.
In 2004 Tajikistan signed a deal with Russia's RUSAL Company to
complete the construction of the Rogun hydropower plant on the Vakhsh
River. However in 2006 the construction was suspended and in 2007
Tajikistan terminated the deal with RUSAL.
The problem is Uzbekistan's opposition to the project, as it fears the
dam on the river flowing from Tajikistan will sharply decrease the volume
of incoming water. Tajikistan, in its turn, badly needs the facility to
recover from economic crisis.
Russia believes the interests of neighboring states shall be accounted
for in hydropower plant construction in Central Asia.