1. Introduction

1.1 General Information about the Project

1. The Project objective is to ensure the power exchange of Tajikistan with Uzbekistan and the reconnection of Tajikistan with the Central Asian Power System (CAPS). The Project pro-vides for the complete restoration and reconnection of the Tajik power system with Uzbek power system. This means the restoration of parallel operation of the Tajik energy system with the regional one, from which Tajikistan has been cut off in 2009. Within the Project framework in order to synchronize the electrical networks of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, it is planned to install modern relays, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, auxiliary, and other equipment that will increase system reliability and will be installed at the connection points on 220 kV and 500 kV transmission lines.

2. In the north of Tajikistan, it is planned to install two new points of connection of Tajik network to Uzbek power system that will increase the stability of the parallel operation of the two power systems. This Project allows Tajikistan to export summer surplus electricity to Uz-bekistan and ensure more efficient use of regional power resources.

3. The Project consists of two contract packages:

 Package 1: Construction of Transmission Line 500 kV (approx. 1442 m of length, based on preliminary design), upgrade of high-voltage substation equipment, relay pro-tection, telecommunications and SCADA, and Fibre-Optic Cables installation.

 Package 2: Upgrade of the Emergency Automation System.

4. For Package 1, works are foreseen in a number of sites, including:

 The RoW of the Transmission Line (OHTL)

 Substations: Regar, Dushanbe, FEZ Dangara, Khatlon, Djangal, Rudaki, Iskodar, Ya-van, Rogun, Novaya, Lolazor, Orj-Abad-2, Rumi, Kolkhozabad, Geran, Ravshan, Shakhriston, Khudjand, Shakhrinav, Uzlovaia, Gissar.

 Power generation stations: Sangtuda HPP-1, Dushanbe TPP-2, Nurek HPP, Rogun HPP, Baypaza HPP, Yavan TPP, Golovnaya HPP.

 National Control Centre (NCC) and Backup Control Centre (BUNCC).

5. For Package 2, works are foreseen at ECS main and backup server rooms located in Barki Tojik headquarter building and in SS Novaya.

6. This Safeguard Due Diligence Report has been prepared by the social and environmen-tal safeguards monitoring department of the PMU, with the aim to demonstrate that the work at the majority of the project sites are not associated to any environmental or social impacts and therefore can get a no-objection from ADB to start civil works without the need for a LARP. These sites (not requiring a LARP) include the following:

 Substations: Regar, Dushanbe, FEZ Dangara, Khatlon, Djangal, Rudaki, Iskodar, Ya-van, Rogun, Novaya, Lolazor, Orj-Abad-2, Rumi, Kolkhozabad, Geran, Ravshan, Shakhriston, Khudjand, Shakhrinav, Uzlovaia, Gissar.

 Power generation stations: Sangtuda HPP-1, Dushanbe TPP-2, Nurek HPP, Rogun HPP, Baypaza HPP, Yavan TPP, Golovnaya HPP.

 National Control Centre (NCC) and Backup Control Centre (BUNCC).