DUSHANBE, April 6, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- This year, Tajikistan has reportedly abandoned electricity rationing 40 days earlier than last year.

According to Barqi Tojik power holding (Tajik electricity supplier), Tajikistan abandoned electricity rationing elsewhere in the provinces on March 22, 40 days earlier than last year.

The Barqi Tojik spokesman Nozirjon Yodgori says it has become possible due to electric power saving and the nationwide switch to energy-saving light bulbs.

We will recall that Tajikistan introduced electricity rationing in some of its provinces on November 10, 2009 after a major blackout in the country.  Dushanbe and the provincial capitals have been provided with electricity without limitations, while only seven hours of electricity were available in rural areas from November 2009 through January 2010 and Barqi Tojik then eased electricity rationing in the provinces twice.

It is to be noted that since last November, Tajikistan’s electricity-distribution system has been operating independently from the unified Central Asian power grid.

Tajikistan experiences serious electricity shortages during autumn-winter period and measures rationing electricity supplies are introduced in all regions except the capital Dushanbe and seek to curb the country''s rising electricity consumption.  The rationing is usually effective from November through April.  In addition to curbing rising consumption, the move also stems from a decline in the water level in the country''s reservoirs powering the main hydroelectric power plants.