DUSHANBE, January 21, 2009, Asia-Plus — Speaking at a press conference in Dushanbe on January 21, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi noted that termination of transit of Turkmen electrical power to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems may cause water provision problems in the downstream countries this summer.
According to him, after termination of transit of Turkmen electricity, Tajikistan has to keep its Norak and Qairoqqum hydroelectric power stations (HPS) operating in maximum level. “In recent days, water levels at the Norak reservoir have decreased on average by 50 centimeters per day and this volume should be recouped in the summer season, when much more water is needed for agricultural works than in the winter period,” the minister, said noting that similar situation is reported at the Qairoqqum HPS as well.
On the Tajik-Uzbek relations, Zarifi noted that there were no any unsolvable problems in relations between the two countries. “In my opinion, problems in relations between our countries are created by faults of some ministries and departments of the two countries,” he said.
We will recall that Turkmenistan electricity supplies to Tajikistan were suspended on January 1 due to lack of an agreement between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on transit of Turkmen electricity to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems. Tajik delegation was in Tashkent in early January to negotiate the issue but it failed to solve the issue.
Under the provisions of an agreement signed between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in 2007, Turkmenistan will annually supply 1.2 billion kWh of electricity to Tajikistan in autumn-winter season during the period till 2012. Turkmenistan began supplying electrical power to Tajikistan on November 1, 2008.
Turkmenistan supplies electricity to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems. An agreement on transit of Turkmen electrical power to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems was reached during a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with his Uzbek counterpart, President Islam Karimov, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in October 2008 on sidelines of summits of the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC). The final decision on this subject was reached in Almaty, Kazakhstan on October 18, 2008.
According to Barqi Tojik power holding, pays to Turkmenistan for electricity at the rate of 3 cents per 1 kWh. Besides, Tajikistan should pay to Uzbekistan for electricity transit at the rate of 0.3 cent per 1 kWh.
