DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus — Water inflows to the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) have declined four times, Land Reclamation and Water Resources Minister Said Yoqubzod announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 23.
According to him, a decline in water inflows has resulted from unusual cold weather. The minister said that a water meter at the Darband post has shown that water comes from the Vakhsh River to the Norak reservoir at the rate of only 45-50 cubic meters per second, while in the same period of last year the water inflows rate was 222 cubic meters per second..
“In the meantime, water flows out of the reservoir at the rate of 565 cubic meters per second ,” said the minister “This tenfold difference may lead to suspension of work of units of the station.”
In the meantime, speaking to journalists at a news conference on Thursday, Deputy Energy and Industries Minister, Poulod Muhiddinov noted that the present water inflows rate in the Vakhsh River is only 18 cubic meters per second, which is the lowest rate for the whole period of monitoring.
According to him, water levels at the Norak reservoir have fallen “to record-breaking low levels.”
“Today, water levels at the reservoir are at 864 meters above sea level,” said the deputy minister, “In accordance with directions for operation of the plant, it is prohibited to use the reservoir for powering the plant if the water levels in the reservoir falls to 857 meters above sea level; otherwise it may lead to alarm conditions.”
