Electricity Rationing Tightened In Tajikistan

DUSHANBE -- New power rationing in the Tajik capital has imposed a limit on residents of 11 hours of electricity per day, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Some regions of the country recently had their energy ration eliminated and now have no electricity at all.

Uzbekistan stopped transporting Turkmen electricity to Tajikistan in December in a move that the Tajik side claims is a breach of contractual obligations.

The Uzbek move prompted Tajik electricity distributor Barqi Tojik-main to ask the government to impose restrictions.

Dushanbe residents currently have power from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and again between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Dushanbe city spokesman Shavkat Saidov told RFE/RL that the restrictions apply to all but state-owned buildings.