DUSHANBE, January 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- To reduce commercial losses in the power systems Dushanbe energy authorities are replacing induction electricity meters with the electronic ones.  

According to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, the replacement of meters is part of the Energy Loss Reduction Project (ELRP) co-funded by the World Bank and the Swiss Government through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

11,000 electronic electricity meters were installed in Dushanbe’s Sino and Firdavsi districts last year.  Another 50,000 electronic electricity meters are supposed to be installed in the city this year.

We will recall that Chinese company has been granted a contract on providing the electronic electricity meters.  The new electronic meters are installed free of charge.

The ELPR, designed for 2007-2011, was developed by the World Bank jointly with the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) and aims at creating a solid economic basis for both the electricity and gas sectors.  WB provided the Tajik government with a total of US$ 18 millions, divided into a credit of US$ 15 millions and a grant of US$ 3 millions. Upon request of the Tajik government, the Swiss government co-financed the ELRP with a grant of US$ 8 millions through SECO.