DUSHANBE , July 21, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan will have energy problems until new sources of energy appear, Tajik Energy Minister Abdullo Yorov told journalists yesterday.  

According to him, new energy problems will face Tajikistan in the upcoming autumn-winter season because of improper water level in the country’s reservoirs powering the main hydroelectric power stations.   

“At present the water level in the reservoir of the Norak hydroelectric power station stands at 31 meters, which 22 meters lower than it is needed (53 meter),” said the minister, “A volume of water coming to the reservoir is very small and it not clear yet whether the reservoir will be filled in till the autumn or not.  If the water level is low, there will be problems with providing the population and industrial enterprises with electricity in the winter.”  

This situation evokes concern of the Energy Ministry also because it has been the lowest level of water in the Vakhsh River over the past 50 years, according to Abdullo Yorov.   

On the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ), which is the main electricity consumer in the republic, Mr. Yorov noted, “If earlier there had been necessary 14 million kWh of electricity a day to meet the plant’s requirements in electric power, now this index amounts to 20 million kWh.”  

“In this connection, by government’s resolution TadAZ will negotiate with foreign energy partners the issue of electricity deliveries to it this year by itself,” the minister said. 

According to him, at present negotiations are ongoing in Bishkek ( Kyrgyzstan ) on supply of Kyrgyz electricity to Tajikistan in the winter period.  Besides, Tajikistan is currently supplying 800 million kWh of electricity to Uzbekistan in exchange for 600 million kWh of Uzbek electricity that Tajikistan received in the 2005-06 autumn-winter season.  

According to figures provided by the State Committee for Statistics , Tajikistan has generated 7.831 billion kWh of electric power over the past six months, which is 2.2 percent or 173.6 million kWh fewer compared to the same period of 2005.