To sustain long-term economic growth and development, Tajikistan needs an adequate and reliable electricity supply. From 2009-2016, approximately 70 percent of the Tajik population suffered from extensive electricity shortages during winter. The lower water flows in the winter season prevented full utilization of existing hydro generation capacity, and there were no alternative sources of supply. Amounting to approximately 2,500 GWh or 14 percent of annual electricity demand, these shortages imposed estimated economic losses of US$200 million per annum or 3 percent of 2012 GDP.
