DUSHANBE, November 3, Asia-Plus -- Compared to other countries of the world Tajikistan has the lowest tariffs of electricity, Carlos Pinerua, the head of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) mission to Tajikistan, told journalists in Dushanbe yesterday.  

According to him, under a memorandum signed between the Government of Tajikistan and the World Bank in April this year Tajikistan should gradually raise its electricity tariffs in order that the country’s energy sector will have become profitable by 2010.   

“I think the government will be able to protect the poor sections of the population through providing compensations,” said the IMF mission head, “At present the Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding does not have funds to pay taxes, repairing to its equipment and invest in any projects.”  Increase in the electricity tariffs is necessary for enhancing activity of Barqi Tojik, according to him.  

Pinerua also noted that the Fund rules out the possibility of monopolization of Tajikistan’s energy market by other countries.