Translated with AI
Electricity losses in the city of Dushanbe in the first half of 2025 decreased to 16.9%, which is significantly lower than last year's figure of 21.27%. This was reported at a meeting of the working group on the results of the work of the capital branch of OJSC "Electric Grid Distribution Companies", held on July 18 in the conference hall of OJSC "Barki Tojik" under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Usmonali Usmonzoda.
The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries and departments, law enforcement agencies, heads of capital districts, as well as employees of the energy industry.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that on April 15, 2025, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed a package of legislative acts, including amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and additions to the Criminal Code, aimed at toughening penalties for theft and abuse in the energy sector.
"Two years ago, electricity losses in Dushanbe amounted to 40%," Usmonzoda noted. "But thanks to the work done over the past three months, they have decreased: in April and May – to 10%, and in June – to 8.6%. This means that previously a quarter of the electricity in the capital was simply stolen."
According to Barki Tojik, 180,000 billing meters out of the planned 196,000 have been installed in the city to date. The remaining subscribers are expected to be connected in August. According to experts, sustainable results in reducing losses are expected in September.
Currently, monthly electricity consumption in Dushanbe is estimated at 150 million somoni, which is 25% of the national average.
Deputy Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Sarvar Azimzoda emphasized in his speech that despite positive changes, the country's energy sector faces serious challenges – corruption, lack of qualified personnel, theft, and violation of internal controls.
According to the prosecutor's office, in the energy sector, 2,326 orders and 221 representations were issued in the first half of the year, 3,800 people were held accountable, 190 criminal cases were initiated, and 273 million somoni in damages were collected.
In particular, numerous cases of unjustified replacement of meters, interference with the billing system, understatement of consumption volumes, debt write-offs, and misappropriation of equipment have been identified in the capital.
Of particular concern is the fact that energy company employees themselves facilitate the theft, Azimzoda said.
Across the republic, electricity losses in the first half of 2025 decreased from 20.9% to 17.93%, and payment collection increased by 735 million somoni. According to the authorities, this is the result of joint work between energy workers and law enforcement agencies.
The meeting participants also discussed the need to further strengthen outreach efforts among the population, improve the efficiency of electricity consumption, eliminate identified deficiencies, and tighten penalties for violations in the energy sector.
Usmonali Usmonzoda instructed the relevant departments to continue monitoring the implementation of the project for the full digitalization of the electricity metering system and promised that by the end of 2025 the level of losses in Dushanbe will be reduced to 12–13%.
