Tajikistan’s energy supply situation has partially improved thanks to electricity imports from neighboring Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) reported.
Currently, the country receives up to 2 million kWh of electricity daily from Uzbekistan, with the potential for increased volumes depending on Uzbekistan’s capacity.
The energy ministry also announced preliminary agreements with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on future electricity supplies. Work is underway to resolve technical issues related to logistics and transmission.
Tajikistan’s only access to external energy markets is through a 500 kV power line (“Regar–Guzar”) in the country’s southwest, which runs via Uzbekistan. Therefore, any transit from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan must be coordinated with Uzbekistan’s grid capacity.
According to the ministry, full integration with the Central Asian Unified Power System (UPS) will be possible once northern power lines in Tajikistan are connected to the regional grid. This integration is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Unified power grid and rainfall help stabilize power supply
Experts explain that parallel operation within the UPS means all electricity produced is pooled into a single network, from which connected consumers draw what they need. In times of shortage, blackouts become inevitable — and those not classified as priority users are disconnected first.
The system is managed by a dispatch center in Tashkent. Each country has a set electricity quota, and exceeding it or drawing power without authorization can lead to severe outages or cascading failures.
Another factor helping stabilize Tajikistan’s power supply is recent rainy weather. The Ministry of Energy reported a significant increase in water flow from the Vakhsh River, where the country’s main hydropower plants are located.
As of December 12, daily electricity output exceeded 54 million kWh — up from a previous low of 44 million. However, water levels at the Nurek reservoir remain lower than last year, currently at around 902 meters above sea level — three meters below the level recorded in December 2024.
This year’s early use of reservoir resources, starting in September due to reduced inflow, has contributed to the shortfall.
Power cuts continue
Electricity rationing in Tajikistan has been in effect since late September and worsened in late November with stricter measures.
According to the national power distribution company, the following restrictions are in place:
· Group 1 consumers (up to 5 kW, excluding Dushanbe) are disconnected during outage periods;
· Smart meters are also shut off from the billing system on a rotating schedule;
· Power to budget-funded and other government organizations is cut from 6:00 p.m. until the next workday;
· Street lighting not linked to critical infrastructure is turned off;
· EV charging stations are disconnected from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Officially, electricity is provided twice a day — from 5:30 to 8:00 a.m. and from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. But residents in some areas report only two hours of power in the morning and evening, with sporadic blackouts even occurring in parts of Dushanbe.
