DUSHANBE, March 28, Asia-Plus — Gasoline prices have come down in Dushanbe.
On average, gasoline prices in the Tajik capital came down 7.9 percent in three months to March 28, reaching 2.60 somonis for one liter 76-octane gasoline, 3.00 somonis for one liter of 92-octane gasoline and 3.20 somonis for one liter of 95-octane gasoline.
In the meantime, diesel fuel prices have risen 20 percent over the past three months, reaching 3.00 somonis.
The price of one liter of kerosene has come down from 10.00 somonis in December 2007 to 7.00 somonis.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI), over the past three months, Tajikistan has imported petroleum products from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Russia accounted for some 70 percent of Tajikistan’s gasoline imports.
The source at a MoEI noted that open joint-stock company (OJSC) Naftrason (oil product) currently meets only 15 percent of the country’s annual requirements in petroleum products, while the remainder is delivered to Tajikistan by private companies, with largest of them being Zuhro (45 percent) and Akramzod (15 percent).
Meanwhile, world media reported that oil prices went above $108 a barrel after one of Iraq”s main export pipelines was blown up. A company official said damage would cut Basra”s exports by a third, adding to supply fears and increasing concern about stability in the region.
The rise extended last Wednesday”s gains of $4 a barrel after a US report showed lower-than-expected petrol stocks.
A sharp sell-off of all commodities last week took oil below $100 after investors cashed in their gains. The price of New York light sweet crude oil closed at $107.58 dollars per barrel having hit $108.22 dollars. Another key measure of the oil price, London Brent crude, finished $1.01 higher at $105, having peaked at $105.60 during the session. Last week, the price of oil reached a record high of $111.80.
