DUSHANBE, January 30, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan’s energy sector is currently in a critical situation, Sharif Samiyev, the head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 29.
According to him, hydroelectricity is the main economically viable energy source in Tajikistan. Samiyev noted that the water level in the reservoir of the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) had declined following the low flow of water in the Vakhsh River. “At present the rate of the flow of water in the Vakhsh River is 80-120 cubic meters per second,” the Barqi Tojik top manager said, noting that it is the lowest-ever flow of water in the Vakhsh River. “Therefore we have been forced to introduce electricity rationing in Dushanbe as well,” he noted.
Samiyev said that the Dushanbe heating plant currently operates in full capacity, using 400-420 tons of fuel oil per day. “In all, they have stockpiled 30,000 tons of fuel oil, which will be enough for the period until mid-March,” the Barqi Tojik head said.
Besides, Uzbekistan has increased the supply of daily electrical power to Tajikistan up to 6 million kWh. “This year, we should receive totaling 600 million kWh of electricity from Uzbekistan in the winter-spring period,” said Samiyev, “We have to date received 56.5 million kWh of electricity from Uzbekistan.” In exchange of these 600 million kWh of electricity Tajikistan will supply 900 million kWh of electricity to Uzbekistan in the summer period.
Compared to 2005, generation of electricity in Tajikistan last year reduced by 1.2 percent and amounted to 16.756 billion kWh. At the same time, the consumption of daily electrical power in the country increased by 3.5 million kWh; the Tajik Aluminum Plant accounted for 1.5 million kWh of this amount. “At present the daily consumption of electricity in Tajikistan amounts to 68.5 million kWh,” Samiyev said. He added that expert expect that with the construction of hotels the daily consumption of electricity in the country to increase at least by 1 million kWh.
“If new hydropower plants are not put into operation, electricity generated in Tajikistan will be not enough even for resolving its domestic problems in the coming five-six-years,” the power holding head said. .
On the work carried out in 2006, Samiyev said that they last year blocked the Vakhsh River to further the construction of the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant and started the construction of two power-transmission lines.
According to Barqi Tojik, the Tajik power holding in 2006 invested $6 million in the construction of the Sangtuda-2 power plant, $1 million in the construction of the Sangtuda-1 power plant and $5.8 million in the construction of the power transmission lines South-North and Lolazor-Khatlon.
