The completion ceremony of the No 2 Thermal Power Station of Dushanbe Phase-II Project, undertaken by POWERCHINA-affiliated Hydro Electric Power System Engineering Company, was recently held in Dushanbe. More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony, including Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon; Chinese ambassador to Tajikistan Yue Bin; the Chairman of the Upper Chamber of Tajik Parliament and Dushanbe Mayor Ubay Dulloyev; Tajikistan Deputy Prime Minister Azim Ibrohim; Assistant of the President of Tajikistan on Issues of Social Development and Public Relations Abdujabbor Rahmonzoda; Tajikistan Minister of Energy and Water Resources Usmonali Usmonzoda; Tajikistan Minister of Industry and New Technologies Shavkat Bobozoda; and other governmental officials and representatives from various sectors. Major leaders from TBEA Company Limited and representatives from Hydro Electric Power System Engineering Company were also invited to attend the completion ceremony.

        On that day, President Rahmon visited the main facilities and the exhibition hall of the Power Station, and amid applause pushed the launch button in the main control room, putting the station into operation. After the visit, Rahmon delivered a speech in which he offered his heartfelt thanks and high praise to the Chinese and Tajikistan people for constructing the power station, which he described as the pearl of friendship between the two countries. The power station will greatly relieve Tajikistan’s winter shortages in power and heat, and be a source of brightness and warmth for the Tajik people. Lastly, he wished for the perpetual happiness and health of the people of both countries and extended his heartfelt thanks to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

        The 2×150 MW Power Station, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, is a key construction project of Tajikistan. From June 10, 2015, when the first part of the steel framework of the boiler was hoisted, to Nov 13, 2016, when the two generator units entered their trial operation at full load for 72 hours, the whole process has been remarkably successful. It was completed six months ahead of schedule with high quality and superior technologies, a new record for overseas thermal power station projects. The project was awarded the “Luban Prize”, a major prize in the field of engineering construction. As the contractor for the main projects of the power station, Hydro Electric Power System Engineering Company had to overcome difficulties, such as an unfamiliar construction environment in a foreign country, a shortage of locally available materials and skilled workers, long distance transfer of a great deal of equipment and materials, and excessive coal impurities. With an annual power generation of 2.2 billion degrees, a heat supply area of 4.3 million square meters, and a load representing 16 percent of the total power generation of Tajikistan, the power station will satisfy most of the winter power and heat supply of the 700,000 residents in the area of the capital city of Dushanbe.