Recurrent energy crises resulting in limited consumption of electricity negatively impact economic activity in Tajikistan, says a report released by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on November 23.
Economic Effects of Tajikistan's Accession to the Eurasian Economic Union, in particular, notes that the chronic shortage of electricity in Tajikistan persists against the background of the huge hydropower resources that the country possesses.
Recall, rural areas in Tajikistan currently have electricity only several hours per day.
Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan national power utility company), however, denies it is implementing a rationing regime, saying only that power is disconnected intermittently because of ongoing repairs at the Nurek hydroelectric station, which provides much of the country’s electricity needs, and sub-stations.
Meanwhile, sources close to the country’s hydropower sector say restrictions on the supply of electricity has been imposed due to drop in water levels in the reservoir powering the Nurek hydroelectric power plant (HPP), because they did not stock up on the required amount of water in the summer, carrying out idle spillways at the request of neighboring countries during the irrigation season.
Representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the regions complain that they cannot operate fully and suffer great losses due to long outages.
Hydropower is the main source of energy in Tajikistan, followed by imported oil, gas and coal.
