DUSHANBE, November 1, Asia-Plus – Administration of Tojikgaz, Tajik state gas concern, claims that it will be able to provide the population and industrial enterprises with natural gas in the winter period.
“We have reached an agreement with Uztransgaz (Uzbek gas supply company) on regular natural-gas supplies to Tajikistan in the winter period,” the Tojikgaz head Fathiddin Muhsiddinov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe yesterday.
“We have already begun supplying natural gas to the Dushanbe thermal electric power station, and Tojikazot (the Vakhsh plant on producing mineral fertilizers) also resumed its activity ten days ago,” said Muhsiddinov, “The only problem is an opportune payment for the imported natural gas, but it has also been resolved.”
According to him, Tojikgaz has repaid its debt of US$2 million to Uzbekistan. “I believe that there will be no problems,” said the Tojikgaz head, “In January, working groups of the two countries will gather in Tashkent to fix volumes of supply and prices for 2007.”
At present private houses and apartments that do not have gas meters monthly pay for natural gas at the rate of 6.8 somonis per one person, according to him. “We are currently reviewing the determined rates in connection with Uzbek notice on gas price hike,” said Muhsiddinov, “Beginning on January 1, 2007, a monthly rate for private houses and apartments without gas meters may possibly be determined at 10 somonis per each person.”
We will recall that in its letter to Tojikgaz, Uzbekistan’s Uztransgaz said that it will charge Tajikistan US$100 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas in 2007.
Speaking to journalists, the Tojikgaz head also noted that a total debt of natural-gas consumers to his enterprises has amounted to 145 million somonis (US$42.8 million) as of October 1, 2006. Of this amount, 134 million somonis are the public debt.
