DUSHANBE
, July 4, Asia-Plus – Following rising exchange rate of USD Tajikistan has reviewed natural gas rates and decided to raise them, according to information from “Tojikgaz” (Tajik state gas company).
Tajik gas concern justifies this decision as based on rising exchange rate of USD in
Tajikistan
. The source says changes have taken place in accordance with government’s resolution of March 2003 providing for making quarterly changes to rates of public utilities, including natural gas imported from Uzbekistan, with regard to change of the USD exchange rate.
Since July 1, “Tojikgaz” has realized natural gas imported from Uzbekistan to the public at the rate of 265 Somonis per 1,000 cubic meters (before that, Tajik gas company realized natural gas to the public at the rate of 250 Somonis per 1,000 cubic meters).
According to information from the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), an official exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in
Tajikistan
has been 3.28 Somonis as of July 4, while in the beginning of the year it amounted to 3.19 Somonis.
“Sine we have to pay for gas imported from
Uzbekistan
in the U.S. dollars, it has influence on the natural gas rates inside the country,” the source said.
We will recall that
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.
