DUSHANBE, February 6, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Cold weather has led to decrease in the water inflow rate in the Vakhsh River and sharp increase in consumption of electricity in Dushanbe, Nozir Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan), told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon.

Compared to January 2011, electricity consumption in Dushanbe has reportedly increased by nearly 2.5 million kWh.

“Tajik hydropower plants now generate on average some 51 million kWh of electricity per day and 14 million kWh of electricity are supplied to Dushanbe,” Yodgori said      

He added that compared to January 2012 electricity supplies to Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) have been reduced by 2 million kWh.  

TALCO, which is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world, now provides up to 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming up to 40% of the country’s electrical power. 

Yodgori noted that the Dushanbe combined heat and power (CHP) plant now generates on average 650,000 kWh of electricity per day.

“Current water inflow rate in the Vakhsh River is 118 cubic meters per second, which is 68 cubic meters fewer than in January 2011,” the spokesman said.