DUSHANBE, April 28, 2011, Asia-Plus — Suspension by Russia of oil product exports will lead to increase of prices in Tajikistan’s domestic market, Professor Hojimuhammad Umarov, expert on the Tajik economy, told Asia-Plus, commenting on the possible gasoline export suspension.
“Tajikistan must stock up oil products as other countries do,” the expert said. He is sure that Tajikistan does not have such reserves.
“The government must have enough reserves of grains and oil products in order to be able to curb sudden hike in prices of these products,” Umarov said.
He considers that the government have conducted wrong policy regarding fuel imports. “The government was to have imported oil products not only from Russia but also from other countries – Iran and Turkmenistan,” Umarov said, noting that one more problem may arise.
“All oil products are shipped to Tajikistan via Uzbek territory and this country will create problems for transit of oil products from other countries to Tajikistan, whether we want it or not,” the expert noted.
He, however, is convinced that despite that, Tajikistan ought to diversify sources of fuel imports in order to avoid such problems, “though it will be difficult to do this.”
