Tajikistan has received nearly 1 million U.S. dollars’ worth of some 10 million cubic meter of Uzbek natural gas by October 1, according to the Monitoring and Early Warning in Tajikistan monthly report for October 2018.
It follows that Tajikistan has paid for Uzbek natural gas at the rate of 100 U.S. dollars per 1000 cubic meters.
Recall, Uzbekistan resumed delivering natural gas to Tajikistan in April this year, ending a six-year hiatus. Under a deal reached between the two nations in March, Uzbekistan has pledged to deliver 126 million cubic meters of natural gas to Tajikistan this year at 120 U.S. dollars per 1000 cubic meters.
The gas has reportedly been funneled through the Muzrabad-Dushanbe pipeline and intended mostly to provide for the needs of the TALCO aluminum smelter and some other small enterprises located in the city of Tursunzoda such as Joint-Stock Company (JSC) Aziz, Gazi Regar, brickworks and others.
Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Tojiktransgaz (Tajik state-run natural gas distributor) says other enterprises could also receive Uzbek natural gas if they have necessary infrastructure.
Asked about the delivery of Uzbek gas to residential customers, Tojiktransgaz says it is necessary to fully repair the infrastructure that needs certain funds and time.
Uzbekistan stopped gas deliveries via pipeline to Tajikistan on December 31, 2012 after both sides failed to agree on gas prices following the expiration of their contract.
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan’s only supplier of gas, routinely suspended gas deliveries to its neighbor amid complaints of nonpayment.
Uzbek natural gas prices varied quarterly depending on the world trends and Tajikistan had to make prepayments every ten days.
In 2010, an average price of 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek natural gas for Tajikistan was US$240.00; in the first quarter of 2010, the price of 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas was US$231.00 and in the fourth quarter, it rose to US$254.00.
In the first quarter of 2011, Tajikistan was buying natural gas from Uzbekistan for US$227.85 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the price for the second quarter was US$249.19 per 1,000 cubic meters. In the third quarter, Tajikistan was buying natural gas from Uzbekistan for US$284.33 per 1,000 cubic meters and the price for the fourth quarter was US$311.00.
In 2012, an average price for 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas in Tajikistan was 300.00 U.S. dollars. In 2012, Tajikistan received 132.4 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan, 46.6 million cubic meters fewer than in 2011.
Signs of a thaw in relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan emerged in September 2016. In the years since independence, bilateral relations have been plagued by mistrust, disputes over water resources and outright hostility. Both sides have adopted a series of punitive measures against each other. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed interest in “resetting” relations with Tajikistan.
