DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan began delivering electricity to Uzbekistan Monday (April 2), according to a Tajik government source, AsiaPlus.tj reported.
The power sales represent another improvement in relations between the two countries since Shavkat Mirziyoyev became president of Uzbekistan in late 2016. Uzbekistan withdrew from the Central Asian power grid in December 2009, putting an end to exchanges of power between it and Tajikistan until now.
Uzbekistan is expected to receive at least 1.5 billion kWh per year through a transmission line running from the Regar substation in Tajikistan to the Gulcha substation in Uzbekistan.
Under an agreement reached between the two countries, Uzbekistan will pay 2 US cents per kWh in summer. That rate will increase to 2.5 cents per kWh during the winter.
Tajikistan can export up to 5 billion kWh of electricity between May 1 and September 30, according to official data.
Last year, the country exported 1.3 billion kWh of electricity to Afghanistan, earning about $50 million. Tajikistan also exported up to 600 million kWh of electricity to Kyrgyzstan last summer.
