DUSHANBE, July 10, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan has endorsed new electricity prices.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI), compared to the beginning of the year, electricity rates have risen in Tajikistan on average by 20 percent.  

The source at a MoEI said that since July 1, electricity prices have been set at 4.4 dirams per one kWh for industrial enterprises (the previous price was 3.6 dirams), 7.7 dirams for agricultural enterprises (the previous price was 6.4 dirams), 2.4 dirams for institutions funded from the budget, and 7.7 dirams for commercial enterprises (the previous price was 6.4 dirams).  Residential customers now pay 2.4 dirams (they had previously paid 1.6 dirams) per one kWh for usage of up to 250 kWh, and 3.8 dirams (previously 2.7 dirams) for usage in excess of that amount.      

We will recall that a commission was set up in the beginning of the year to supervise gradual price increases. 

According to the MoEI, the gradual electricity price increases are one of terms of a memorandum signed between the Tajik Government and a joint mission of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.  “The electricity prices are gradually being increased also in connection with demand of the International Monetary Fund,” the source said.  The gradual price increases are dedicated to make it possible to recoup the investments Tajikistan’s is currently making to build hydroelectric power stations and power grids.  Specialists with the MoEI say the average price of one kWh of electrical power should reach 7 dirams (2.5 cents) by 2010.       

The source added that another 20 percent increase in electricity prices is expected to take place in the country by the end of the year.