DUSHANBE, November 10, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan officially introduced electricity rationing in rural areas beginning on November 10.

Under the resolution signed by the head of Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding Sanat Rahimov today, rural areas of the country will have electricity seven hours per day, Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, Tajikistan’s power system has operated in an autonomous regime over the past several days.  “At present, we are not receiving electricity from other countries,” said Yodgori, “Tajik power plants now generate 38-40 million kWh of electricity per day, which is 3-3.5 million kWh more than last year.”

To save energy Barqi Tojik is forced to begin cutting off electricity supplies to some regions of the country at certain time of day, the spokesman said.

Under the resolution, rural schools will be provided with electricity during class hours, he added.

On the accident that occurred in the country’s power system yesterday morning, Yodgori noted that similar accident took place in 2001.  “The safety system worked very well because no serious effects were reported,” he said, noting that the accident effects were removed yesterday in four hours.