The recent drop in temperatures led to an increased demand for electricity, primarily from electric heaters, resulting in a significant technical malfunction on March 1. Around 11 a.m. local time, power outages were reported in Dushanbe, leaving many households without heating and hot water supplied through a centralized system. The electricity supply was restored three hours later.

Despite the outage lasting several hours, there was no official government statement on the situation. Unconfirmed reports suggested a possible incident at the Nurek hydroelectric power plant, a vital contributor to the country’s energy needs.

Residents in Dushanbe experienced disruptions in running water, mobile internet, and mobile banking apps. While some areas, like Bokhtar, reportedly received electricity, the mountainous Pamirs region, powered by local hydroelectric generators, remained unaffected.

Although Dushanbe is unaccustomed to prolonged power outages, other parts of the country consider them routine. The Nurek plant’s output diminishes in extremely cold temperatures, leading to scheduled blackouts for households outside major urban centers under the annually imposed economy regime, expected to conclude later this month.

Source: Eurasianet.org