DUSHANBE, November 23, Asia-Plus -- The date of lifting electricity rationing introduced in some areas of Dushanbe with effect from November 13 is not yet known and it will last for uncertain period, Asia-Plus has learned at Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) power holding. 

We will recall that capital mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev has supported application of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) for observing electricity rationing in Dushanbe.  According to Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor, by mayor’s resolution of November 21 electricity rationing introduced by the Dushanbe electricity system in some areas of Dushanbe will last till November 30.  In these areas, electricity supplies are now cut off from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.  Dushanbe municipal authorities have announced that exceptions are made for essential facilities situated in those areas.  

 In the meantime, the source at Barqi Tojik said that extension of time of electricity rationing in Dushanbe stemmed from decline in the water level in the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectricity power station and ongoing service-and-supply operations connected with transmission of Turkmen electricity to Tajikistan during inter months.   

            In other regions of the country, electricity rationing was introduced on October 1 already.  The rationing is the latest attempt to curb rising demand for electricity in Tajikistan following an acute shortage of electricity last winter and early spring.  The new restrictions last through April 2008 and reduced the supply of daily electrical power to eleven hours, or five hours in the morning, from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m., and six hours in the evening, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.