DUSHANBE, October 28, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- In the coming winter, electricity deficiency in Tajikistan is expected to stand at 2 billion kWh of electricity, while last year, it was more than 4 billion kWh of electricity, Abdullo Yorov, the head of Barqi Tojik power holding (Tajik electricity supplier), told reporters on October 27.

“Anyway, we will not be able to avoid the introduction of electricity rationing in the coming winter,” said Yorov, “We offered the government to introduce electricity rationing beginning on November 1 but the final decision will be made by the government.”

The Barqi Tojik top manager noted that if this year’s winter was not severe, residents of areas affected by electricity rationing would have electricity no less than ten hours per day.  According to him, electricity rationing will be introduced only in rural areas and will not affect Dushanbe and regional and district administrative centers.

“I think we will be able to do without electricity imports this winter,” said Yorov, “Uzbekistan, however, is ready to supply electricity to Tajikistan in the winter period, but they want more than 4 cents per one kWh electricity; this price is unacceptable for us.”

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.