DUSHANBE, September 22, 2010, Asia-Plus — Gasoline prices will not change in Tajikistan in the near future, the source at the Antimonopoly Service under the Government of Tajikistan.
Gasoline prices have remained stable in the country since May. “A sudden spike in gas prices was reported in the country in May,” said the source, “A special commission has been set at the antimonopoly agency to prevent unfounded rise in gas prices.”
The commission monitors pricing policy of five Tajikistan largest oil product suppliers, he added.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), current price of one liter of 92-octane gasoline is 4.20 somoni and current price of 95-octane gasoline is 4.50 somoni.
We will recall that gas prices rose 15 percent in Dushanbe and 30 percent in some regions of the country in mid-May this year. Experts said the price hike has resulted from Russia’s decision to introduce export duties on light oil for Tajikistan.
Russia introduced export duties on light oil for Tajikistan at the rate of 203.7 U.S. dollars per one ton and on June 1, the export duty was raised to 209.1 U.S. dollars.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan had been receiving Russian fuel duty free since 1995, in keeping with protocols to the government-to-government agreements on the establishment of a free trade zone within the CIS area. However, Russian customs started collecting a duty on oil products exported to Kyrgyzstan on April 1 and to Tajikistan on May 1.
Russia, providing the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, now accounts for more that 70 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports. Russian-Tajik joint venture, Gazrpomneft-Tajikistan, now has 33 percent of the oil product market in the country.
