DUSHANBE, August 28, Asia-Plus - Tajik government has considered issues related to taking timely preparations to ensure the regular work of the country’s economy in autumn-winter 2007-2008 and providing the population, economic, social and cultural facilities with electricity, natural gas and fuel in winter, presidential press service said. 

A government session presided over by President Emomali Rahmon was held on August 27.  Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov, senior representatives from president’s office, as well as heads of relevant ministries and organizations attended the meeting.  

The meeting, in particular, heard reports by Energy and Industries Minister Sherali Gulov and heads of other relevant ministries and organizations on a progress of work done to ensure the regular work of the country’s economy in winter.  They noted that the work on stocking up fuel and coals for winter is going on. 

77,000 tons of coals and 12,000 tons of coke have been stocked up so far, and 330 shops for realizing coals to the population have been set up in different regions of the country.  The work on stocking up necessary amount of fuel oil and liquefied gas is also nearing completion.  

The president demanded at the meeting that work on constructing the Sangtuda-1 and Sangtuda-2 power plants and maintaining the Norak, Qairoqqum and Varzob hydroelectric power stations, as well as the Pamir-1 hydropower plant should be speed up.  Besides, the head of state ordered to accelerate preparations for construction of the Roghun power plant and rehabilitation of the Dushanbe and Yovon cogeneration plants.

A special attention was paid to the issue of providing social facilities with fuel.  

President Rahmon urged that all ministries and organizations as well as the population should take adequate preparations for introduction of power rationing in winter.  

“Shortage of water and insufficient level of water in reservoirs powering the main hydropower plants force us to introduce electricity rationing in autumn-winter period,” the president said.