DUSHANBE, January 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The supply of daily electricity to residential customers in rural areas has been increased from 8 to 10 hours, Safarali Sadulloyev, deputy head of Barqi Tojik power holding, told reporters in Dushanbe on January 28.

“Water levels at reservoirs powering hydropower plants are now enough to ease electricity rationing introduced in the regions,” Sadulloyev said, noting that easing electricity rationing has also become possible due to nationwide shift to energy-saving light bulbs.  According to him, switch to energy-saving light bulbs has allowed Tajikistan saving some 875 million kWh of electricity.

In 2009, Tajikistan generated 14.1 billion kWh of electricity.  Tajikistan last year exported 60 million KWh of electricity to Afghanistan, 106 million KWh of electricity to Kazakhstan and certain amount of electrical power to Uzbekistan, Safulloyev said.