From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Oct 03 2000 - 10:27:08 EDT
Tajikistan to face winter power shortages as dam levels sink
The water level in the reservoir at Norak hydro-electric power station, on
the River Vakhsh in central Tajikistan, is an unprecedented eight metres
below the average for this time of year, fuelling fears of power shortages
this winter. In an interview carried on Tajik TV's weekly "Pahno"
("Expanses") economic magazine on 23rd September, the director of the Norak
hydro-electric power station, Abdullo Yorov, said that the maximum flow in
the River Vakhsh this year was only 1,400 cu. m. per second, compared with
an average of 2,500 cu. m. per second in June of previous years. Over video
of the dam and power installations, Yorov said that a government resolution
had been issued limiting the use of power in towns, Districts and
enterprises. Even when the reservoir is full, he said, Tajikistan suffers a
shortfall of 1.5bn kWh of power in winter, so with the current levels there
will be severe shortages.
Asked to confirm Tajik media reports that Tajikistan was selling water to
Uzbekistan in exchange for "unlimited" power in winter, Yorov said: "I am
sure that there is such an agreement between the leadership of neighbouring
Uzbekistan and our head of state. In fact, we fulfilled a request from
Uzbekistan to supply nearly 300m cu.m. of water for irrigation needs within
20 days, though we needed it like air ourselves. However, I am not aware of
any agreements and other documents signed between the government of
Tajikistan and the management of the Barq-i Tojik [Tajik Electricity], but
I do know that we gave to Uzbekistan nearly 300m cu.m. of water for its
irrigation needs."
Yorov added that the completion of the Roghun hydro-electric power station
and dam, further upstream to the northeast of Norak, would help solve the
problem of Tajikistan's power shortages in winter.
Source: Tajik Television first channel , Dushanbe, in Tajik 0640 gmt 23 Sep
00
BBC Mon CAU 021000/** va/bb/mi
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