26-01-05 Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov believes that "a qualitatively new phase" in relations between Tajikistan and Russia began after [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's visit to Tajikistan in October 2004 and the signing of a package of bilateral documents.
Rahmonov said this at a meeting of the Tajik government while approving an agreement on the procedure and terms of Russia's participation in the construction of the Sangtuda hydroelectric power station [in southern Tajikistan].

The agreement is part of the package of documents.
"The implementation of the project with about $ 250 mm of investment from the Russian side will become a historic factor in the development of the Tajik energy sector," Rahmonov said. The Tajik government also adopted a resolution instructing a number of ministries and departments to designate a place in the southern Khatlon Region for the construction of a new aluminium plant with capacity of up to 200,000 tons.

The construction of the plant is envisaged by another agreement from the package of documents "On long-term cooperation between the Tajik government and Russkiy Alyuminiy [Rusal, the Russian aluminium giant]", signed in October 2004.
The estimated cost of the project is $ 600 mm. In addition to building the plant, the Rusal intends to invest $ 560 mm in the completion of the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station [in central Tajikistan], which will become a joint-stock company under the decision of the Tajik government.