DUSHANBE, October 26, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- This year’s electricity rationing will result in the supply of daily electric power being reduced to 12 hours, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

The source at a MoEI says the reservoirs powering the Norak and Qairoqqum hydroelectric power plants are filled with water to the max level this year and the reservoir of the Sangtuda-1 power station is also almost full.  “All this will give us an opportunity to generate more electric power than last year,” said he, “Therefore, residents of areas, where electricity rationing has been introduced or will be introduced, will have electricity no less than 12 hours per day.”

Besides, 224 small hydropower plants now operated in the country and an efficient use of them will allow passing the winter without any serious electricity supply problems, the source added.

As it had been reported earlier, electricity rationing was introduced in a number of remote districts of the country on October 1.  The electricity rationing, introduced in remote rural arrears, resulted in the supply of daily electric power being reduced to 11 hours.  The strategic facilities and the district administrative centers, however, receive electricity regularly.

According to the MoEI, the move seeks to provide economical use of water from the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power plant.

We recall that the electricity rationing is usually introduced in all regions except Dushanbe from October through April and seeks to curb the country’s rising electricity consumption.