After weeks of public complaints, Tajikistan’s authorities have officially confirmed that power outages are taking place in some regions of the country from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.  However, they continue to reject the notion that an official power rationing regime—commonly known as the "limit"—has been introduced.

Doustmurod Toirov, head of the dispatch center at the National Electricity Transmission Network, told Asia-Plus that the outages are linked to ongoing maintenance work on power lines and substations.

“Complaints about the introduction of a limit are unfounded. Power cuts began in certain areas on October 10, and electricity is currently being switched off from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,” Toirov said.

He added that recent increases in the water level of the Vakhsh River have improved inflows into reservoirs, which in turn affect electricity supply.  The volume of incoming water and reservoir levels directly influence restrictions, he said.

Meanwhile, Qurbon Ahmadzoda, a representative of the state-owned energy company Barqi Tojik, also acknowledged a shortfall in electricity supply but insisted that this should not be considered a formal limit.

“Compared to last year, residents are receiving electricity for longer hours.  The current outages are necessary to fill the Nurek Reservoir and prepare for the winter season,” Akhmadzoda explained.

Residents in several regions—including Sughd and Khatlon provinces and districts subordinate to the center—report that electricity is being shut off from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the day and again from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. at night.

Locals are demanding that the government and Barqi Tojik officially acknowledge the restrictions and provide a clear timeline for how long they will last.

Annual power limits loom amid government silence

Tajikistan has a long-standing tradition of seasonal electricity restrictions, typically implemented from late autumn through mid-spring. In recent years, these limitations have begun earlier, with rationing starting as early as mid-September. In 2024, power restrictions were officially announced on September 22.

Historically, authorities have denied the existence of outages during the initial weeks, only acknowledging them after a surge in public complaints and direct criticism from President Emomali Rahmon. This year, however, despite growing dissatisfaction among citizens, the government has yet to formally declare the start of the electricity limit.

Barqi Tojik attributes the situation to declining river water levels and increased domestic power consumption. Nonetheless, Tajikistan continues to export electricity to neighboring Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, prompting further public frustration.

Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Barqi Tojik have previously stated that electricity restrictions will remain in place until the full launch of the Roghun Hydropower Plant.  President Rahmon has reiterated that the nation’s energy shortage is expected to be resolved by 2027.

Planned outages in Dushanbe on October 13

Meanwhile, scheduled maintenance work is set to cause temporary blackouts in parts of the capital, Dushanbe, on October 13.  According to the city power utility, electrical supply will be interrupted from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in several neighborhoods due to preventive maintenance at the Qasri Tenis and NOB-2 substations.

Affected areas include neighborhoods in the Sino district—Armughon, Shodob, Gurakha, Chagatai, Luchobi Bolo, Luchobi Poyon—as well as parts of the Toighar neighborhood.

The company noted that power could be restored earlier if maintenance is completed ahead of schedule.