TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Uzbekistan intends to remain a member of the Central Asian integrated energy system.
Asia-Plus informatsionnoe agentsvto reported Tuesday that a source at the Ozbekenergo (Uzbek energy) state joint stock company speaking off the record said that the corporation had notified the relevant authorities in both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan of its intention to discuss revising the terms for its provision of transmitting electricity to Kyrgyzstan through Uzbek territory.
Speaking on condition of anonymity the Ozbekenergo source said, "We want to introduce payments for electricity transmission to Kyrgyzstan which earlier flowed free of charge."
Ozbekenergo's comments follow earlier reports that Uzbekistan allegedly was considering withdrawing from Central Asia's integrated electrical grid. Such an action would have deprived Tajikistan of an opportunity to receive Turkmen electricity, as the transmission lines transit Uzbek territory.
For the last several years Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have clashed over the issue of Kyrgyz hydroelectric facilities autumnal and winter water discharges disrupting the agriculture of downstream states Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
