DUSHANBE
, August 1, Asia-Plus – Uzbek authorities are considering the possibility of raising the prices of exported natural gas, according to information from “Tojikgaz” (Tajik state gas concern).
“It is not cleared yet what price of exported natural gas Uzbek authorities intend to set,” said the source, “
Uzbekistan
is considering doubling the prices and may soon charge
Tajikistan
between US$100 and US$120 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas, up from the current US$55.” According to the source, this issue will be resolved at the beginning of the next week.
In the meantime, experts from the Ministry of Energy expect the prices of natural gas to rise throughout the world on average by 10%-15% annually in the coming years. The price hike result from increasing demand for this kind of fuel, “while the production of natural gas remains on the same level.”
We will recall that on January 1 this year,
Uzbekistan
raised the price of natural gas for
Tajikistan
from US$42 to US$55 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Uzbekistan
authorities have justified the decision as based on world market trends.
Since July 1, “Tojikgaz” has realized natural gas to the public at the rate of 265 Somonis (equivalent to more than US$80.00) per 1,000 cubic meters. According to agreement reached between “Tojikgaz” and “Uztransgaz”,
Tajikistan
intends to have imported 750 cubic meters of natural gas from
Uzbekistan
this year.
