DUSHANBE, November 24, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan is introducing rigid measures rationing electricity supplies starting on November 28, Sharifkhon Samiyev, the head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe today.   

Samiyev said that the measures are connected with the construction of Sangtuda-1 power plant on the Vakhsh River, “works to dam the river will be carried out on November 30.”  According to him, the rationing, which has been effective since November 23 and will last through December 3, has resulted in the supply of daily electricity being reduced to 3? hours: 1? hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.  In Khatlon and districts subordinate to the center, electricity is supplied from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. in the morning and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the evening.  In northern Tajikistan, electricity is supplied from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. in the morning and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

According to him, From November 29 to November 30, electricity in the country will most likely be cut off completely.  During these two days, electricity will be supplied only to the facilities of vital importance, Samiyev said.      

At present Tajikistan’s hydroelectric power stations generate some 43 million kWh per day, which is not enough to adequately provide the public and organizations with electricity.  From November 28 to November 30, generation of electricity will decline to 25 million-26 million kWh per day, the Barqi Tojik head said.  According to him, they have tried to arrange with Uzbekistan purchase of additional 500 million kWh and transit supply of 1 billion kWh from Kyrgyzstan via its power systems.  “Uzbek authorities refused, justifying their decision by saying that the Uzbek power systems are allegedly not ready for transmission of such a large amount of electricity,” said Samiyev, “According to our data, however, its is possible.”  “We export electricity to Uzbekistan in the summer period and its power systems successfully hold such loads,” Samiyev stressed.  In the summer period”     

We will recall that in last November last year, a complete power blackout stroke the Tajik northern province of after a cutoff of electricity and gas supplies from neighboring Uzbekistan.