DUSHANBE, September 5, 2008, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan has cut natural-gas shipments to Tajikistan by more than 40 percent due to $5 million in arrears that Tojikgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) now owes to Uzbekistan.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Tojikgaz head Fathiddin Muhsiddinov said that three days ago, Uzbekistan cut natural-gas supplies to Tajikistan from 840,000 cubic meters per day to 480,000 cubic meters. According to him, they have remitted $3 million to Uzbekistan, however, they have cut the gas deliveries due to $5 million in arrears that Tojikgaz owes to Uzbekistan.
The Tojikgaz top manager further added that that a present, only Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco) and closed joint-stock company (OJSC) Tojikazot (Sarband-based plant for producing mineral fertilizers) receive gas supplies regularly.
In the meantime, Barqi Tojik power holding currently owes some $2.7 million to Tojikgaz and gas debts of Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) now amount to $1 million.
