DUSHANBE, October 15, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Beginning on January 1, 2009, electricity prices will rise in Tajikistan, D. Qurbonov, the deputy head of the antimonopoly directorate within the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), announced at press conference in Dushanbe n October 14.  

According to him, the price hike comes in response to financial difficulties facing Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding and recommendations from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank on development of the country’s energy sector.

“Under an agreement between the Tajik government and the Word Bank, the average price of one kWh of electricity should reach 2.5 cents in the country by 2010; for this, it is necessary to raise the current electricity prices by 40-50 percent,” the antimonopoly official said.  

We will recall that last rise in electricity prices was introduced in Tajikistan on May 1, 2008, and the current prices are 4.8 dirams for residential customers, 10.95 dirams for industrial enterprises, except Talco, which currently pays 5.15 dirams per 1 kWh, 8 dirams for federally funded institutions and 27 dirams for commercial enterprises.  It is the second rise in electricity prices this year.  A 20 percent rise in prices for electricity was introduced in the country on January 1, 2008. 

The average electricity tariff in Tajikistan is still one of the lowest electricity tariffs in the world.  Local experts say that if Tajikistan fails to raise rates gradually, it will not be possible to recoup the investments Tajikistan is currently making to build hydroelectric power stations and power grids.