Tajikistan’s national power utility company, Barqi Tojik, claims that the whole of Tajikistan is provided with electricity for 10%.  Meanwhile, regions complain about power outages and reintroduction of power rationing.  

Nozir Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik, told Asia-Plus yesterday afternoon the rumors of reintroduction of power rationing in the regions do not correspond to the fact.

“We are not aware of any complaints from the public,” said Yodgori.  “Why complain to you, not to us?  There is no power rationing!”

However, residents of Sughd and Khatlon province as well as a number of districts subordinate to the center (RRP) have complained about power outages they have faced since February 22.  

From February 22 through February 28 residential customers in the mentioned regions did not have electricity from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.

Since March 1, residential customers in Sughd and Khatlon province as well as a number of districts subordinate to the center have not had electricity from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am and from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  

Representatives of the Sughd power distribution network has confirmed this.  According to them, power outages are connected with ongoing repair work at the hydropower plant and substations, which are being carried out in preparation for the early spring season.  They say the repair work will be completed in the province within the next few days.    

Meanwhile, representatives of the power distribution network in the Khatlon province say the power supply has been limited in the area by government’s regulation. 

“By government’s regulation power supply restrictions were introduced from 10:00 pm t0 5:00 am on February 22, and by additional direction power supply restrictions were also introduced from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,” Rajabali Boyakov, an engineer-in-chief, Bokhtar power distribution network, told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

According to him, the power supply restrictions have stemmed from a decline in the water level in the reservoir powering the Nurek hydroelectric power plant (HPP).

“Compared to the same period last year, the water level in the Nurek reservoir has declined 2 meters,” Boyakov said.    

He further added that the electricity supply restrictions in the province would be lifted before the Navrouz holiday.