Electricity crisis solved in Dushanbe
From now on (at least till the next winter) Dushanbe is not going to have problems with electricity and the tough schedule introduced in the beginning of this winter was abandoned on 1st of March by the decision of Barki Tojik - the electricity monopolist. AsiaPlus reports that, the electricity supply was restored not only in the apartments but also in enterprises (markets, cafes, restraints, etc). In addition to this, Barki Tojik promises to start supplying with electricity in full amount such major cities as Tursunzade (the aluminum city), Kulyab (south) and Khujand (north) and some other remote regions.
AsiaPlus reminds it readers that the tough schedule of electricity cut-offs was introduced in the beginning of February. Electricity supply, particularly in Dushanbe was decreased to 10 hours/day: five hours in the morning and five in the evening. Most of the regions were fully cut off.
One of the main reasons for that was a low level of water in the main water reservoir of the country. This water is used by Nurek hydropower station (generates more than 80% of electricity in the country) to generate electricity. Although our main power engineers constantly reported that it was due to the cold winter that the water in the Nurek reservoir was decreasing, some other sources reported that the level of water was not decreasing that fast as it was reported and the crisis was artificially created.
Earlier Ravshan was reporting that those who had a chance to visit Nurek during the energy crisis could observe the reservoir full of water - the level of water (in the beginning of February) was even higher in the reservoir than it was in the beginning of the winter. But no one knows the real reason of this crisis.
on March 4th, 2008 at 4:38 am
To say that this crisis was artificially created and that there was more water in Nurek Reservoir at the height of the crisis than at the beginning of the winter is ridiculous and wrong! I know a lot of people, both local Tajiks and international experts, who all reported extremely low water levels. To state this kind of information in an otherwise good media is just participating in giving the media a bad name. There is enough to complain about in connection with the crisis, but the water level is not something you can do anything about. In stead the generation capacity of Tajikistan should be increased and that can only come about with a significant increase in the tariffs combined with a reform of the billing system to combat over billing by corrupt individuals.
on March 6th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Talk about dissemination of false information.
I wonder if this is still punished by jailtime in TJ…
on March 7th, 2008 at 6:03 am
ha ha
Tajikboy, you still cannot forget about the moderation of your comments.
I guess this is a reason for punishment, but it was not only us who disseminated this information. I can not find the link, but I know that Radioi Ozodi (Liberty), during the harsh crisis reported that even though Tajikistan was suffering of the energy crisis, our power engineers somehow found an extra amount of electricity for Northern Afghanistan. However Barki Tojik was denying this information.
Do think that it was also a false report?
on March 7th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I cannot make any judgment on the level of water in TJ dambs sitting here in the US, but it is highly unlikely for the government to have that kind of tight control over the infrastructure, media and what not.
Plus overall you have to think about the implications of such a move on the country’s political image in the world. I think the last thing Tajik government wants is to be seen incapable of solving its problems, both internally and externally.
Given the above, I don’t see any significant political motivation to do this.
on March 8th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I hope it will not happen. But if it happens, I think it will be bad
on March 9th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I am sure it won’t happen