Tajikistan returning to electricity rationing regime, 6 January 2021

Tajikistan’s state-owned electricity utility company has reportedly reintroduced power rationing across most of the country in response to a drop in water levels at a key hydroelectric dam.

The government has not been compelled to limit how much power it supplies to households since the winter of 2016.

As a result of the rationing coming into effect on December 5, homes in residential areas outside the capital, Dushanbe, and other major cities will have no power from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. for the foreseeable future, Asia-Plus newspaper reported.

The newspaper cited a source at the Barki Tojik utility company as saying that the restrictions are a result of levels at the Nurek hydropower dam dropping to four meters below what they were at this same period last year...

In fact, rolling blackouts had already intermittently been taking place in rural localities since November. Energy officials denied this was happening, however, claiming that power interruptions were linked only to work on overhauling production and transmission infrastructure.  

Barki Tojik had promised that blackouts would end by December 10, but it was only a few days before that pledge was broken...

While many households will have to make do without power, the country’s main industrial concern, Talco aluminum producer, which is known to be controlled by Hasan Asadullozoda, the brother-in-law of President Emomali Rahmon, will see no rationing.