He also noted that Tajik government was currently conducting negotiations with Kazakh authorities on import of electrical power from Kazakhstan. It is to be noted that some media, referring to the ministry of energy and industries, reported yesterday that Tajikistan has begun receiving electricity from Kazakhstan at the rate of 1.5 million kWh per day.

Commenting on this issue, Chorshanbiyev said, “Tajikistan currently receives 500,000 to 1.5 million kWh of electricity per day from the common regional power system, however, we cannot say what country generated this electrical power - it may be Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Turkmenistan. We have not yet reached specific agreements on electricity supplies, negotiations are under way.”

“We will recall that Uzbekistan interrupted Turkmen electricity supplies to Tajikistan on January 1, 2009 that caused severe electricity shortages in the country. The Uzbek side blamed the interruption of Turkmen electricity deliveries to Tajikistan on a malfunction at the Uzbek Qaraqul substation, which is used for Turkmen power deliveries to Tajikistan,” Chorshanbiyev said.