DUSHANBE, March 26, 2011, Asia-Plus — Electricity rationing was introduced in Dushanbe on March 25.
The session of the Dushanbe legislature (Majlis) that was held on March 25 took a decision on introduction of electricity rationing in the city in connection with abnormally low water flow in the Vakhsh River and low water levels in the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power plant (HPP).
“Under this decision, electricity supply to residential customers will be cut off from 24:00 to 5:00 am and electricity rationing will be in force until the situation at the Norak HPP improves,” Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor’s office, said.
According to Barqi Tojik power holding (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan), current water flow rate in the Vakhsh River is now some 200 cubic meters per second, which is three times lower than last year and two times lower than an average long-term level. Barqi Tojik officials say there are no limitations on power to strategic buildings in Dushanbe.
In the meantime, rural residents now have electricity for only two or three hours per day.
In the spring and summer, Tajikistan’s hydropower plants generate a huge amount of electricity that is exported to neighboring countries, but in the autumn and winter, especially if the summer was dry and water levels in reservoirs are low, electricity rationing is introduced in the country.
Electricity rationing is usually introduced in Tajikistan in November and lasts through April next year. Measures seeking to curb the country’s rising electricity consumption are usually introduced in all regions except Dushanbe. In addition to curbing rising consumption, the move also stems from a decline in the water level in the Norak reservoir.
