DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan has reduced natural-gas supplies to Tajikistan by one-third, Fathiddin Muhsiddinov director of Tajik state natural-gas distributor Tojikgaz, said.
According to him, the main reason for reduction is a $7 million debt of Tojikgaz to Uzbek state gas producer Uztransgaz.
Muhsiddinov noted that the supply of daily natural gas from Uzbekistan had reduced from 3 million cubic meters to 2 million cubic meters.
Meanwhile, power holding Barqi Tojik and Dushanbe cement plant alone now owe $5 million and $2.5 million respectively to Tojikgaz, the Tojikgaz head said.
“If these enterprises had paid their gas debts in time we would have been able to ensure regular provision of the public with natural gas,” Muhsiddinov said, noting that Tajikistan has received 50 million cubic meters of Uzbek natural gas since the beginning of the year.
This year, Tajikistan plans to import 600 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan.
