The management of Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan’s power generation company) attributes shortage of electricity in autumn-winter period to increase in the living standards of the country’s citizens.

“People began to live better, and therefore, they began to consume more electricity,” Barqi Tojik top manager Mahmadumar Asozoda told reporters in Dushanbe on February 13, answering numerous questions about power rationing being introduced in the country in autumn-winter period.

He stated that electricity consumption in the country is increasing in autumn-winter and “Barqi Tojik cannot fully satisfy demand”   

According to him, the population of the country is growing rapidly and “people’s standard of living is increasing, and accordingly, the demand for electricity is growing.”

Asozoda further noted that withdrawal of power rationing for residential customers in rural areas depends on the hydrological regime of the Vakhsh River Снятие, which fill the reservoir powering the Nurek hydropower plant.  

At the same time, he called the arguments of those, who believe that Tajikistan began to export more electricity contrary to the interests of the population, unfounded.  

“That's not entirely true,” said Barqi Tojik top manager.  “Electricity exports cease in winter, except to Afghanistan.  Electricity deliveries to Afghanistan continue in autumn-winter period as well, but in small volumes solely for the safety of the infrastructure period.”   

The Barqi Tojik management has claimed that in the cold season, when there is a shortage of electricity in Tajikistan itself, electricity deliveries to Afghanistan are reduced 10 times.

Official statistics show that last year, electricity exports to Afghanistan in autumn-winter period really decreased, but only 3 times.  In May-August, average monthly electricity supplies to Afghanistan amounted to US$22.8 million, and in September-December – US$7.6 million.  

Meanwhile, residential customers in Tajikistan’s rural areas still have had electricity only eight or ten hours per day since late September last year.

Tajikistan has sufficient summer-time (defined as May 1 to September 30) hydropower surpluses to export to the neighboring countries.

Recall, President Emomali Rahmon noted in a statement delivered at a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament on December 28 that about 9 billion somonis have been channeled to rehabilitation of the country’s power grids in recent years.

“If we had not done this, we would be left without electricity today,” the president emphasized.  

He also noted under what conditions the population will receive electricity around the clock.   

“Our electricity losses are about 4 billion kWh,” said the president.  “If we prevent this, then there will be enough electricity for everyone.”  

It is to be noted that Tajikistan struggles with electricity rationing for more than 30 years after independence, despite long-held dreams of becoming an energy export powerhouse.

Measures rationing electricity supplies are usually introduced in all regions of the country except Dushanbe, regional administrative centers and major cities of the country and they seek to curb the country's rising electricity consumption.  In addition to curbing rising consumption, the move also stems from a decline in the water level in the country's reservoirs powering the main hydroelectric power plants.

Power rationing affects rural areas of the country and it does affect Dushanbe, regional administrative centers and large cities.  Residential customers in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), where Pamir Energy Company supplies electricity to consumers, also have an uninterrupted supply of electricity during the autumn-winter period.