Russia Delays Opening Power Plant In Tajikistan

DUSHANBE (RFE/RL) -- The opening of a Russian-owned hydropower plant in Tajikistan has been postponed until the plant's Tajik electricity supplier can repay a debt of $4.4 million (16.5 million somoni).

Parts of Tajikistan have been without power since December -- when Uzbekistan stopped allowing Turkmen electricity to transit to Tajikistan -- while the rest of the country has been rationing electricity.

A spokesman for the Barqi Tojik electric company told RFE/RL's Tajik Service on February 20 that the company is unable to settle the debt at this time.