DUSHANBE, January 30, Asia-Plus -- Sharif Samiyev, the head of Barqi Tojik power holding, told journalists in Dushanbe on January 29 that during 2006, electricity debts in Tajikistan increased from 164,320,000 somonis to 168,000 somonis.  

According to him, the rate of the collection of funds from the public, enterprises and organizations last year amounted to 95.5 percent.  “The rate of the collection of the funds from the public last year was 98 percent,” Samiyev said.  

During last year, the electricity debts in northern Tajikistan (Sughd province) increased from 37 million somonis to 40 million somonis, in the Khatlon province from 16.522 million somonis to 17.522 million somonis, and in Dushanbe from 12.235 million somonis to 12.357 million somonis.  

Speaking to journalists, the Barqi Tojik top manager noted that the electricity debt of the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources alone amounted, as of January 1, 2007, to 9 million somonis.  “The Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ) last year did not have debt for electricity consumed,” Samiyev said, noting that TadAZ has reduced its electricity debts for the previous years by 1.2 percent, from 83 million somonis to 81.175 million somonis.  

The Tajik power holding top manager added that an electrical power loss reduction project has been launched in Dushanbe this year.  The project is aimed at helping reduce commercial losses in the city’s electricity system, according to him. 

The electrical power loss reduction project provides for the supply and installation of electricity meters and testing and quality control laboratories.  It will support the design and installation of computerized billing systems.  

“Tajikistan has one of the lowest rates of commercial losses in its electricity system among the CIS countries,” said Samiyev, “At present commercial losses in Tajikistan’s electricity system constitute 12.56 percent, while in Azerbaijan – 19 percent and in Uzbekistan – 17 percent.”