DUSHANBE, February 22, Asia-Plus — By proposal member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda made at the eighth session of the upper chamber on December 15, 2006, the ninth session of the Majlisi Milli on February 22 heard a report on the energy supplies situation in the country.
Deputy Energy and Industries, Minister, Pulod Muhiddinov, detailing the issue noted that the public’s requirements in electricity have increased five times over the last 16 years. “Thus, in 1990, the public consumed 1.2 billion KWh of electricity while last year, the population consumed 3.6 billion kWh of electricity, taking into account electricity rationing introduced in the country,” said the deputy minister, “In 1990, Dushanbe consumed electricity at the rate of 2 million kWh per day, taking into consideration that all industrial enterprises were in operation that time, and today, the supply of daily electrical power to the city amounts averages 6-7 million kWh.”
Muhiddinov linked this to shortage of natural gas and low capacities of power plants in the winter period.
The energy official also noted that at preset it is planned to provide $50 million for the first stage of completing the construction of the Roghun power plant. “The construction will consist of three stages and the first stage is scheduled to cover three years,” said Muhiddinov, “During the first stage, it is planned to bring the plant’s dam to 225 meters and put the first two generators into operation.”
Asked about the possibility of use of alternate energy resources, Muhiddinov said that the ministry is considering that issue. “We are currently considering the possibility of purchasing from China’s companies equipment for producing bio gas.”
Aleksey Silantyev, first deputy head of Barqi Tojik power holding, noted that the water level in the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power station has declined. “Meteorologists expect the weather to get warm in the first ten days of March,” said Silantyev, “As a result of this, the water level will increase and generation of electricity will increase respectively.”
Sadriddin Sharipov, director general of Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ) also member of the Majlisi Milli, told the session that the plant last year consumed electrical power generated by the Norak station 100 million kWh less than in 2005. According to him, TadAZ in 2006 purchased 900 million kWh of electricity from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
