AKIPRESS.COM - Normalization of the Tajik-Uzbek relations and attraction of foreign investments might help the Government of Tajikistan to finish construction of Rogun hydropower plant, according to experts of the Eurasian Development Bank.
"The Tajik Government's plans on completion of construction of Rogun HPP got another impetus. Normalization of the Tajik-Uzbek relations and attraction of foreign investment in the amount of $500 million might allow the Italian contractor not only catch-up, but also complete the scheduled construction of Rogun HPP by the end of 2018," The Macroeconomic Review says.
Rogun HPP is being built by the Italian Salini Impregilo company. During the reign of President Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was opposing the construction of Rogun HPP. Uzbek authorities were claiming that construction of this hydropower plant will reduce the river flow and lead to the ecological collapse in case of the dam break in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan started construction works in October 2016. The total cost of the construction of this HPP is estimated at $3.9 billion.