Uzbekistan quitted the unified Central Asian power grid on Tuesday due to its self-claimed attempt to ensure its energy security, the Interfax reported.
"Uzbekistan is to officially withdraw from the Central Asian power grid on Dec.1, the decision to withdraw will create conditions for a more stable
and reliable operation of the national energy systems," Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Tajikistan Shoislam Shokasymov said in Dushanbe.
Shokasymov pointed out the Soviet Union-era Central Asian power grid is "outdated and unreliable" to perform effectively, and often caused problems and disagreements among its members.
Last month, Kazakhstan accused Tajikistan of unauthorized extraction of energy from the unified system and threatened to withdraw from the regional
grid, but officials in Dushanbe denied the accusation.
The Central Asian power grid was set up during the Soviet Union-era to let the former Central Asian Soviet republics share resources like
electricity and water freely across their borders. Facing crippling energy shortages of 3-4 billion kilo watts during winter, Tajikistan is highly
dependent on it.
Analysts said that Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the energy body will make its neighbor face further difficulties in energy supply.