DUSHANBE, January 9, Asia-Plus – The situation with a sudden spike in gasoline prices in Tajikistan is gradually coming back to normal and experts from the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MET) link this to expiry of a term of ban imposed by Kazakhstan’s authorities on export of fuel from the country in connection with harvest season.
As it had been reported earlier, Kazakhstan imposed ban on export of the diesel fuel for the period from July 1 to October 15 in order to ensure that sufficient reserves remain available for the harvest season and on October 11, Kazakhstan’s Government passed a resolution extending ban on fuel exports till December 31 2005.
The source in the MET has told Asia-Plus that compared to late December 2005 an average price of gasoline in the republic has come down by 6.86 percent and amounted to 2 Somonis. The price of one liter of 96-octane gasoline in Dushanbe came down from 2.40 Somonis in late December to 2 Somonis on January 5, with similar price falls in other parts of the country. The price of one liter of 95-octane gasoline has come down from 2.20 Somonis to 2.00 Somonis. As it had been reported earlier, compared to late November 2005 an average price of gasoline in the republic came down by 18.78 percent in late December 2005.
According to information from the MET, Tajikistan imported 278,600 tons of oil products in January-November 2005. The totaled included 129,900 tons of gasoline for a total amount of US$52 million (US$400 per ton). Besides, Tajikistan imported 42,000 tons of diesel fuel for US$17.5 million (US$417 per ton) during this period. According to the source, in July-December 2005, Tajikistan imported mainly from Russia and Turkmenistan.
Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan are the main trading partners to Tajikistan fuel imports. Kazakhstan accounts for 40.7 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, Russia for 23.4 percent and Turkmenistan for 15.3 percent.
