On March 1st, a major failure occurred in the country's power system, resulting in not only electricity cuts but also halting the supply of heat, water, and even mobile and internet connections for Tajikistanis.
Residents of the capital faced an unpleasant surprise as the city plunged into darkness around midday due to abnormally cold weather and heavy snowfall. The outage was followed by water and heat cuts, leaving many without essential services.
Local authorities' silence further complicated the situation, leaving citizens in distress. In normal countries, responsible parties inform and reassure residents in such situations, even issuing apologies.
While electricity was restored after three hours, heating problems persisted in the following days, with some areas still lacking heat. It was later revealed that almost the entire country, except for one region with an autonomous system, experienced the blackout.
A representative of the city's power distribution company explained that the failure was due to a technical incident on the main high-voltage lines. The unprecedented increase in consumption was cited as the reason for the breakdown.
Experts pointed out factors contributing to such incidents, including seasonal water level drops at the Nurek Hydropower Plant. The completion of the Rogun Hydropower Plant is seen as a solution to these issues, with its multi-season reservoir.
The absence of mechanisms for energy exchange with neighboring countries and the lack of centralized heating in major cities were also highlighted as causes of strain on the power system. The need for energy-saving technologies and infrastructure improvements was emphasized to prevent future crises.
Despite recurring challenges in Tajikistan's energy system, efforts towards sustainable solutions and enhanced infrastructure remain crucial to ensure stable power supply for the population.
