In early January, several regions of Tajikistan faced stricter electricity supply restrictions, leaving schoolchildren to study by candlelight and rural residents relying on firewood and dung for heating.
Residents report longer power outages than in previous weeks, with some villages experiencing blackouts lasting days.
Energy officials attribute this to severe weather conditions and reduced river water levels affecting hydropower plants.
In December, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) announced a power supply schedule for rural areas: 5:00-8:00 AM and 4:00-11:00 PM.
The voice of the people
However, nearly half of respondents in an Asia-Plus Telegram poll said the schedule is not followed, citing multi-day outages.
In the village of Urtabuz in Hisor district, electricity was unavailable for several consecutive days. Some areas subordinate to Vahdat Township lacked power for three days.
A similar situation is observed in rural areas across the country. Residents complain about rising coal prices and the lack of firewood for heating.
Many are questioning whether there are alternatives and urging authorities to address the issue. "Why are we living without electricity and communication in the 21st century?" asked one resident.
Meanwhile, the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan reported that over the first ten months of last year, electricity exports had earned Tajikistan over 102.4 million US dollars.
Tajikistan struggles with electricity rationing 30 years after independence, despite long-held dreams of becoming an energy export powerhouse.
Measures rationing electricity supplies are usually introduced in all regions of the country except Dushanbe, regional administrative centers and major cities of the country and they seek to curb the country's rising electricity consumption. In addition to curbing rising consumption, the move also stems from a decline in the water level in the country's reservoirs powering the main hydroelectric power plants.
