DUSHANBE, October 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Electricity rationing has not yet been introduced in Tajikistan, Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding, told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon, commenting on reports by some media about introduction of electricity rationing in rural areas of the country.

According to him, power holding on October 11 just applied to local provinces with solicitation to consider the possibility of cutting off electricity supplies to some rural areas at night.  “This application cannot be interpreted as introduction of electricity rationing,” Yodqori said.  

We will recall that last year, electricity rationing was introduced in Tajikistan on September 1 resulting in the supply of daily electricity being reduced to four-six hours.

Electricity rationing is introduced in all regions of the country except the capital Dushanbe and seeks to curb the country’s rising electricity consumption.  In addition to curbing rising consumption, the measure also stems from a decline in the water levels in the reservoirs powering the main HPPs.  The rationing is usually introduced in October and lasts through April of the next year.