DUSHANBE, March 2, 2009, Asia-Plus — Barqi Tojik power holding has lifted electricity rationing in Dushanbe following resumption of Turkmen power deliveries and the government is currently taking measures to ease electricity rationing in the provinces.
The electricity rationing introduced in some areas of Dushanbe on January 27 was lifted on February 27. We will recall that the power rationing introduced in Dushanbe resulted in the supply of daily electricity to some areas o the city being reduced to 18 hours.
According to Barqi Tojik, the power rationing in Dushanbe was lifted due to the resumption of Turkmen power deliveries to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems and the beginning of the supply of Uzbek electrical power to the country last Friday.
The source at Barqi Tojik said that the resumption of Turkmen electricity deliveries had become possible due to long negotiations with Uzbek energy authorities. During the last visit of Tajik team to Tashkent, the sides agreed on all disputable issues and discussed all conditions of transit of Turkmen electrical power to Tajikistan via Uzbek power systems, the source said.
Under agreements reached in Tashkent, Uzbekistan is expected to supply 100 million kWh of electricity to Tajikistan in March.
We will recall that Turkmenistan was to supply 1.2 billion kWh of electricity to Tajikistan during autumn-winter 2008-2009. In November-December 2008, Turkmenistan delivered 400 million kWh of electricity to the country. Therefore, Turkmenistan is supposed to supply 800 million kWh to Tajikistan this spring.
Since February 27, Tajikistan has received some 13 million kWh of electricity from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan per day. Turkmenistan now supplies 10 million kWh of electrical power to Tajikistan per day, the Barqi Tojik source said. Tajikistan itself yesterday generated 19.7 million kWh of electricity. On March 1, the rate of water inflow into the Norak reservoir was 166 cubic meters per second and water levels at the reservoir are now at 858.19 meters above sea level.
On the present electricity supply in the regions, the source noted that the government was currently working out a new schedule of electricity supplies to the provinces. “If we have sufficient resources, we will increase electricity deliveries to the regions,” the Barqi Tojik source said.
As it had been reported earlier, Uzbekistan in early January interrupted Turkmen electricity supplies to Tajikistan, blaming the interruption on a malfunction at the Uzbek Qaraqul substation, which is used for Turkmen power deliveries to Tajikistan.
The interruption of Turkmen power deliveries has forced Tajikistan to keep the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) operational at maximum level that has seriously affected the power supply situation in the country. Because of the severe power shortages, Tajik authorities were forced to introduce electricity rationing in some areas of Dushanbe and tighten power rationing in the regions.
