DUSHANBE, September 2, 2011, Asia-Plus — Terms and conditions of supply of Russian oil products to Tajikistan will be one of major topics of Russian-Tajik negotiations that will take place today afternoon, Russian Minister of Energy Sergey Shmatko told journalists in Dushanbe on September 2.
“We have to come to an agreement on this subject, but this issue is complex and we have a number of open questions regarding energy sector,” said Shmatko, “One of such issues is Tajikistan’s electricity debt.
Tajikistan now owes more than 214 somoni (equivalent to more than 44 U.S. dollars) to Sangtudinskaya GES-1. “We sign schedules debt repayment schedules but they are not fulfilled…,” said the minister, “This, however, does not mean that these issues are connected with negotiations on lifting export duty on oil products.”
According to him, they have already prepared “a detailed balance of consumption of Russian oil products.” “This is very important because we would not like to allow re-export of Russian oil products from Tajikistan to third countries,” Mr. Shamtko stressed.
“Let us really integrate, cooperate! We do not have to subsidize anybody,” the Russian minister of energy stated.
In this connection, he informed journalists of the project aimed at launching joint venture on the basis of Fuel Supply Company at Dushanbe International Airport. “We have conducted negotiations on this subject for along time but no progress has been made so far,” Shamtko noted.
On the Roghun hydroelectricity project, Russian minister noted that construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) was of significant importance for Tajikistan, because the country experienced serious electricity shortages during autumn-winter period. Besides, development of hydropower potential will assist with implementation of the Regional Electricity Transmission Line known as CASA-1000. “This will mean Tajikistan’s integration into a large regional energy system that will promote development of the country’s economy,” Shamtko said.
“Issues colleagues raise relate to observance of international procedures… Water-and-energy cooperation in the region is a very complex problem, but it is quite a solvable if all these procedures and rules are observed both at bilateral and multilateral levels,” Russian minister said, noting that Russia was interested in participation in development of Tajikistan’s hydropower potential.
“We are waiting for more specific negotiations with Tajikistan on implementation of the export capacity of the Sangtuda-1 HPP through the CASA-1000 Project,” Shamtko noted. According to him, the Russian side has already discussed that issue with partners from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
