Today, the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon arrived for a working visit to Sarband town of Khatlon Province in order to get familiar with the living conditions of population and to inaugurate a number of new key facilities.

The President of the country Emomali Rahmon was met by residents with special hospitality and warmth.

Within the framework of his working visit, the Head of State Emomali Rahmon got acquainted with the rehabilitation work at the Sarband Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) and the progress of the project on modernization of hydroelectric power generating equipment.

It should be noted that the first unit of Sarband HPP on Vakhsh River was put into operation in 1962, and took its full launch in 1966.

Over the years of its operation, it has developed 50 billion kW / h of electricity. The design capacity of this important facility of the country’s hydropower is 240 MW, but over the years it has lost its hydroelectric power project capacity, and today it is only 160 MW.

It should be noted that thanks to peace and stability in society, favorable investment climate of the country, direct orders and instructions of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency, Emomali Rahmon, implementation of a number of HPP projects on the Vakhsh cascade started by taking all the necessary measures resulting in attracting foreign investments.

On this basis, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Ministry of Finance, the Open Joint Stock Holding Company «Barqi Tojik» and the Asian Development Bank on the «Modernization of Sarband HPP with a capacity of 240 MW» was signed. The total cost of this project is 136 million US dollars, the project consists of two phases, and its implementation will be completed in 3 years.

Then, the Head of State Emomali Rahmon, after familiarization with the rehabilitation work at the Sarband hydroelectric power plant (HPP),in a solemn ceremony pulled back the curtain from «The project for the modernization of electricity generation equipment», and launched the project.

President Emomali Rahmon toured the hydroelectric power plant and delivered a speech in front of the employees of Sarband HPP, residents and activists of this industrial town, and focused on the implementation of government programs for socio-economic development and measures to improve the welfare of the residents.