DUSHANBE, January 19, 2009, Asia-Plus -- The government intends to increase the number of small power plants in the country by more than 30 percent, President Emomali Rahmon announced at a government session in Dushanbe on January 15.

According to him, 50 small power plants are expected to be built and introduced into operation in the country by the end of this year.

In the meantime, Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding said that 155 small power plants with a total capacity of 12,500 kW were currently in the country.  However, only 102 of them with the total capacity of 4,600 kWh are now operational.  The small power plants generated 19.5 million kWh of electrical power last year.