DUSHANBE, November 27, Asia-Plus - Like other regions of the country, electricity supplies to Dushanbe will be cut off from 10:00 p.m., November 29, to 10:00 p.m. November 30, Yodgori, a spokesman for the Ministry of Energy, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.    

In Dushanbe, according to him, the electricity cutoff will be introduced mainly in residential microrayons, while the center of the city and facilities of statewide importance, including airport, railway station, hospitals and emergencies services, will have electricity.    

Dushanbe Mayor, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, presided over a meeting of the mayor’s office today to discuss a schedule of supply of electricity in the city.  The scheduled is supposed to be publicized today afternoon, according to mayoral press service.      

As it had been reported earlier, the Barqi Tojik power holding top manager Sharifkhon Samiyev told journalists on November 24 that Tajikistan is introducing strict power cutback starting on November 28.  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 in the regions 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.

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.

The damming of the Vakhsh River will officially commence Thursday afternoon.  Anatolii Chubais, head of Russia''s Unified Energy Systems (RAO YeES), is expected to arrive in Tajikistan to attend the ceremony.  

RAO YeES is constructing Santuda-1 hydroelectric power plant in Tajikistan.   Sangtuda-1 costs $400 million-$500 million to complete and that ownership shares will depend on contributions.