DUSHANBE, September 2, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- This year, Tajikistan took measures, rationing electricity supplies, on September 1, top manager of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding Sharifkhon Samiyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus. 

According to him, the measures, seeking to curb the country’s rising electricity consumption, were introduced in all regions except Dushanbe, regional centers and industrial cities.  The rationing to be lasting through April 2009 resulted in the supply of daily electrical power being reduced to 19 hours – electrical power is currently supplied from 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  

According to the Barqi Tojik top manager, the move also stems from “a low water inflow rate in the rivers.”  “Compared to last year, the water inflow rate is 15%-20% lower,” Samiyev said. 

He added that the present water level at the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) is currently 9.4 meters lower the maximum fillability level and 6.17 meters lower compared to the same period of last year. 

Samiyev says the rate of inflow of water into the Norak reservoir is currently 900 cubic meters per second.  “860 cubic meters are used for generation of electricity, while the water inflow rate is declining,” the power holding head said.     

He also noted that Tajikistan had supplied 900 million kWh of electricity to Uzbekistan by late August in exchange for electricity supplies received from the neighboring country in autumn-winter 2007-2008.    

“We have concluded contracts with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on electricity supplies in autumn-winter 2008-2009,” said Samiyev.  “In all, we will receive up to 1.8 billion kWh of electricity from these countries during the winter months.”

The electricity rationing measures are expected to be tightened up next month.