DUSHANBE, January 31, 2009, Asia-Plus — Over January, gasoline prices have risen nearly 17 percent.
The price of one liter of 95-octane gasoline in Dushanbe has risen from 2.40 somoni on January 17 to 2.80 somoni, with similar price rises in the provinces.
In a report released at a press conference in Dushanbe, Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda noted on January 29 that one of the main reasons for gasoline price rises is decrease in the national currency exchange rate.
“The exchange rate of the Somoni against USD has risen nearly 7 percent to this date. Meanwhile, gasoline suppliers use USD in their transactions with exporting countries,” the minister said. To add to the decrease in the somoni exchange, gasoline deliveries to the country has decreased that has also led to in crease in the gasoline price, according to him.
“Tajikistan’s monthly requirements in gasoline are 20,000 tons, while only 12,000 tons of gasoline were shipped to the country in January,” Bobozoda said, noting that reduction in the gasoline deliveries had resulted from long national holidays in Russia in January.
“New Year’s holidays lasted in Russia for two weeks, you know,” said the minister, “Russia is the main supplier of oil products to Tajikistan, accounting for some 90 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.”
Besides, the price hike also resulted from rising price of natural gas in the country. “In connection with increase in the price of natural gas, many vehicle holders have shifted their cars from natural gas to gasoline that has also affected the gasoline prices,” Bobozoda said.
He noted that the ministry had set up a special working group to study domestic market of fuel product.
The main supplier of oil products to Tajikistan is now joint stock company Zarubezhneftegaz, which is subsidiary of Russia’s state gas company, Gazprom. Zarubezhneftegaz currently accounts for more than 35 percent of the overall volume of oil products supplied to the country. Tajikistan intends to offer his company to a number of its own refueling stations in the country that will promote decrease in gasoline prices, Bobozoda said.
