A power shortage in Tajikistan caused blackouts throughout the country. Barki Tojik, the Tajik state electricity provider had warned that the total blackout will last for three days and then the power supply will remain limited for almost a week.

The blackouts have been caused by the construction of Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant. The river Vakhsh in southern Tajikistan was closed off today to enable construction of a dam for the plant to go ahead. Construction works at Sangtuda have caused power supply disruptions from the Nurek hydropower plant that produces about 75 percent of Tajikistan’s electricity.

Barki Tojik officials suggested planned shortages would not affect “strategic sites” such as schools, hospitals and airports. They also said other hydropower plants will allow providing limited electricity supply to Dushanbe and Khujand, administrative centre of the northern Sogd Oblast. GBAO, Tajikistan’s largest region located in the Pamirs will also not be affected by the blackout.

Authorities suggest that power blackouts are a temporary measure that will ensure a “better future” for the impoverished nation. With a design capacity of 2.7 billion kilowatt hours per annum, the plant is expected to meet the local energy demand and provide excess power to sell abroad.

In November, when the blockage of the Vakhsh had been scheduled, electricity shortages in Tajikistan came at a severe economic cost. The river blockage had been put off because contractors at the site failed to meet the deadlines.

Meanwhile, IWPR reports that energy experts blame winter blackouts on poor planning.

“Energy experts say management of the project has been poorly coordinated, leading to delays to the start of construction and the ensuing power cuts at the coldest time of the year,” IWPR reports.

Despite Barki Tojik’s claims that the population “has shown understanding” of the inevitability of power cuts, people are disappointed with the way authorities handle energy problems.

“We have had power outages since early December,” said Mohira Rozakova, resident of Dushanbe. “Why could not they put it off until a warmer season? Because of their stupid policy the price of bread and gas increased. They don’t see it through the windows of their palaces and fancy cars”.

Officials with Barki Tojik promised they will resume power supply from Nurek on December 21. However, many observers say there is no guarantee that the power restrictions will not be extended until much later.

While authorities keep promising a better future, the population seems tired of not having decent living conditions. On Wednesday, December 13, residents of Kanibadam in northern Tajikistan organized a rally in front of the khukumat (local authorities). They protested against power and gas outages.

As much as five participants of the rally in front of Kanibadam khukumat have been detained by police. Officials from the local Prosecutor’s Office have suggested that strict measures would be applied to participants of such “unauthorized rallies”. The government has thus sent a clear message that any attempts to question its energy policies will not be tolerated.