Tajikistan inaugurates Iran-built sangtuda-2 power plant

The 110-mw Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant constructed by Iran in the Central Asian state of Tajikistan was inaugurated in a ceremony on Monday in the presence of the Iranian and Tajik presidents. During the ceremony, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon congratulated the Iranian and Tajik nations on the important historical event, and expressed the hope that the cooperation between the two neighboring countries would continue in future. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for his part, underlined the Iranian and Tajik people's cultural and religious commonalities, and said, "The Iranian and Tajik nations cannot be separated from each other and we will always remain beside the Tajik nation." He stressed that the good relations between the two countries are in the interest of both nations and the regional states, and said Iran does not seek to misuse the wealth of its neighbors and is willing to expand cooperation with them. Iran signed an agreement with Tajikistan in 2005 to build the Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant. The plant was constructed on the Vakhsh River in the Khatlon region, 160 kilometers (99 miles) south of Dushanbe. When the plant comes on stream, it will be a significant milestone in energy independence for Tajikistan since the country has experienced severe energy shortages since gaining independence in 1991. According to the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) deal, Iran will control the facility for 12 years before handing it over to Tajikistan.