DUSHANBE
, July 3,
Asia
-Plus –
Tajikistan
intends review natural gas rates.
Supplies of natural gas from Uzbekistan to the public of Dushanbe and southern regions of Tajikistan have been suspended because of an accident on the gas pipeline in Uzbekistan, Shavkat Shoimov, deputy head of “Tojikgaz” (Tajik state gas concern), said.
According to him, the repairs to the gas pipeline have been going on for three days and Uzbek gas supplies may possibly resume on Tuesday [July 4]. At the same time, industrial enterprises receive natural gas in sufficient volume – 35,000 cubic meters per hour.
“The latest gas supplies to the public were resumed ten days ago following negotiations between administrations of “Tojikgaz” and “Uztransgaz” (Uzbek gas supply company),” said Mr. Shoimov, “We have managed to agree that the public will receive natural gas and “Tojikgaz” will repay its debt to “Uztransgaz” in parallel.”
The negotiations have also resulted in increase in
Tajikistan
’s imports of Uzbek gas from 40,000 cubic meters per hour to 50,000 cubic meters per hour, the Tajik gas concern deputy head said. “To date, Tojikgaz’s debt to Uztransgaz for earlier shipments has reduced by US$450,000 and at present it amounts to little more than US$3 million,“ the Asia-Plus interlocutor said.
Mr. Shoimov also does not ruled out that in near future “Tojikgaz” will review the natural gas rates. Tajik gas concern justifies this decision as based on rising exchange rate of USD in
Tajikistan
. At present, “Tojikgaz” realizes natural gas imported from
Uzbekistan
to the public at the rate of 250 Somonis per 1,000 cubic meters. “It is not yet known how much the rate will rise,” said Shoimov, “This issue will be solved in cooperation with the antimonopoly commission.”
As it had been reported earlier, a total debt of the public to “Tojikgaz” has amounted to 135 million Somonis (equivalent to 42 million U.S. dollars) as of
June 1, 2006
.
Tajikistan
has increased its imports of Uzbek gas to an estimated 750 million cubic meters this year, despite the increase in price from last year”s level of $42 to $55 per 1,000 cubic meters. After the suspension of natural-gas supplies earlier this year for its failure to pay its debt to
Uzbekistan
, the Tajik government instituted a limited rationing of gas, supplying only the larger of the country”s industrial enterprises.
