DUSHANBE, September 28, 2009, Asia-Plus — It is still premature to speak about introduction of electricity rationing in the country this year, Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik power holding, said in an interview with Asia-Plus today.
According to him, separate rotational power cutoffs rotational that have been reported in some regions of the country are connected with repairs to the electricity transmission lines.
“This year, the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and some 35 small hydropower plants have been introduced into operation in the country as well as enough volumes of water have been filled up in the reservoir of the Norak HPP,” said the spokesman, “Therefore, it is still premature to speak about the introduction of electricity rationing in Tajikistan. However, even if the electricity rationing is introduced this year it will be smoother compared to last year.”
We will recall that last year, electricity rationing was introduced in Tajikistan on September 1 resulting in the supply of daily electricity being reduced to four-six hours.
Electricity rationing is introduced in all regions of the country except the capital Dushanbe and seeks to curb the country’s rising electricity consumption. The rationing is usually introduced in October and lasts through April of the next year. In addition to curbing rising consumption, the measure also stems from a decline in the water levels in the reservoirs powering the main HPPs.
