DUSHANBE, July 30, 20014, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan is taking measures to ease its annual power shortage.

In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Odinamamad Chorshanbiyev, an official with Barqi Tojik (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan), noted on July 29 that Tajikistan’s annual shortage has decreased from 4.5 billion kWh to 1.5 billion KWh in recent years.

First of all, it has become possible due to reduction in consumption of electricity by Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO).  “TALCO has reduced power consumption by 60 percent in recent years,” Chorshanbiyev said.

“Besides, a number of new power plants have been introduced into operation in the country in recent years,” said Barqi Tojik official.  “Thus, the hydroelectric power plants Sangtuda-1 and Sangtuda-2 as well as the Dushanbe-2 combined head and power (CHP) plant and a number of small hydroelectric power plants have been introduced into operation in recent years”

Mr. Chorshanbiyev also noted that Tajikistan’s annual requirements in electric power were increasing by 16-18 percent yearly.

Over the first six months of this year, power plants subordinate to Barqi Tojik have reportedly generated some 6.8 billion kWh of electricity, with 6.7 billion kWh of them generated by the hydroelectric power plants.