DUSHANBE, December 13, Asia-Plus - On December 15, electrical power blackout will plunge Tajikistan into darkness for two days.    

On Tuesday December 12, a strict electricity rationing was introduced in Tajikistan again, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI).  A source at a MoEI said that the strict electrical power cutback will last through December 20, and electricity blackout will hit the republic from December 15-17.  Authorities link severe electricity shortages to efforts to build a dam on the Vakhsh River.   

The electricity rationing has been introduced in some areas of Dushanbe as well.  According to the Dushanbe mayor’s office, electricity supplies to these areas are cut off from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.  In connection with the introduced electricity rationing, the Dushanbe mayor has ordered to increase the supply of daily natural gas to the public and social facilities through the electricity cutback period.  

Experts from the MoEI said that during the construction of the dam on the Vakhsh River the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) will reduce generation of electricity by 50 percent.  “The station will begin gradually increasing generation of electricity only beginning on December 20,” the MoEI source said

According to Barqi Tojik power holding, at present Tajikistan daily generates 41.575 million kWh of electricity, including 29 million kWh (69%) generated by the Norak.  “We hope for the Dushanbe thermal electric power station, which daily generates some 3 million kWh of electricity,” the Barqi Tojik source said.