In response to the power crisis, Tajikistan’s authorities committed to providing at least eight hours of daily electricity to households during Ramadan, Eurasinet reported. The state-run power distribution company communicated this through a mobile message, specifying that power would be available from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time (GMT +5).
Tajikistan’s power supply is heavily dependent on its domestic hydropower resources, making it susceptible to seasonal variations. As a result, a power rationing system was implemented during several winters.
The capital city, Dushanbe, had been exempt from these restrictions for about a decade until last month. On March 1, a significant portion of the country, including Dushanbe, experienced a prolonged power outage in the morning, seemingly due to a major technical issue at the Nurek Hydropower Plant (HPP). The exact cause of the blackout remains unconfirmed by officials, and intermittent power outages plagued Dushanbe households since then.
Despite the ongoing crisis, neither President Emomali Rahmon nor any other high-ranking officials made public comments. Power distribution varies across neighbourhoods, with some receiving power for three hours in the morning and evening, while others, especially in high-rise buildings, experience more unpredictable blackouts.
Street lighting, a long-standing feature, is now conspicuously absent at night. Barki Tojik, the power utility, and the Energy Ministry have denied the implementation of power rationing, attributing the rolling blackouts to ongoing repair work. They suggest that the increased electricity usage due to cold weather has led to more technical issues.
This explanation has left citizens puzzled. One resident, a mother of two young children, expressed her frustration, wishing for an official acknowledgement of power rationing and a clear shutdown schedule. This, she believes, would allow residents to prepare accordingly, such as stocking up on warm water and food.
The situation is even more dire in rural areas. According to a resident of the Romit district, they had only one hour of electricity in the morning and two in the evening for the past 10 days. Rural residents reported on social media that they receive between one and three hours of power per day on average.
However, the use of alternative heating methods, such as coal or other flammable items, has led to tragic incidents. On February 28, six family members, including four children, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Dushanbe. A similar incident occurred on March 5 in Gissar, about 40 kilometres from Dushanbe, resulting in three fatalities.
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