DUSHANBE, December 27, Asia-Plus – A Tajik energy delegation led by Energy and Industry Minister Sherali Gulov is currently in Tashkent to negotiate electricity supplies from Uzbekistan in January-March 2007.
According to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, the delegation is negotiating the issue of how much Uzbekistan will charge Tajikistan for electricity supplies in the report period. The Barqi Tojik official noted that a deal might possibly be reached already today.
Tajikistan usually introduces electricity rationing in the autumn-winter period following a decline in the water level in the country’s reservoirs powering the main hydroelectric power stations. During this period, the country imports electricity from neighboring Uzbekistan in exchange of electrical power delivered to Uzbekistan in the summer.
This summer, Tajikistan has supplied to Uzbekistan 900 million kWh of electricity at the rate of 1.0 cent per each kWh. In the winter period, Tajikistan usually imports not less than 500 million kWh of electricity from Uzbekistan. This year, Tajikistan has to date imported 600 million kWh of electricity from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has charged Tajikistan 1.5 cent for one kWh.
