Uzbeks, Tajiks Fail To Reach Deal On Turkmen Electricity

Energy talks have ended in the Uzbek capital without a breakthrough that would allow for energy-hungry Tajikistan to import Turkmen electricity.

Uzbek and Tajik officials had been meeting in Tashkent to discuss terms for the possible transit of that electricity through Uzbekistan.

Tajikistan currently imports much of its electricity from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Turkmenistan recently agreed to export 1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year to Tajikistan, beginning in October.

But such a deal is presumably contingent on ensuring delivery despite roughly 100 kilometers of Afghan and Uzbek territory that separates Tajikistan from Turkmenistan.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org