DUSHANBE, August 30, Asia-Plus — Tojikgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) now owes nearly $800,000 to Uzbek joint-stock company Uztransgaz for natural-gas deliveries, the Tojikqaz director general Fathiddin Mukhsiddinov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, the low rate of the collection of funds from the public and enterprises evokes concern. “Over the past three months, the rate of the collection of funds for gas consumption has amounted to only 25 percent,” the Tojikgaz head said.
The most incorrigible nonpayers are Tojikcement, Tajik cement plant), owing 2 million somonis to Tojikgaz, TojikAzot (the Sarband-based plant for producing mineral fertilizers), owing 280,000 somonis, and the Yovon chemical plant, owing more than 500,000 somonis.
“The public gas debts have to date amounted to 65 million somonis,” said Mukhsiddinov, “The Dushanbe population alone now owes some 27 million somonis.”
The Tojikgaz director general has reassured that the natural-gas rates will not change before the end of the year and those who do not have debts for gas consumption will have regular natural gas supplies in autumn-winter period as well.
This year, Tajikistan is expected to import some 700 million cubic meters of natural gas from Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan has announced plans to raise the price of its gas exports to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters from a current $55. The price hike would take effect on January 1.
