DUSHANBE, March 30, 2012, Asia-Plus — Gasoline deliveries have sharply declines as more Tajik drivers have chosen liquefied natural gas (LNG) over gasoline following rising gasoline prices.
Yormahmad Begahmadov, the head of the oil and gas supply department within the Ministry of energy and Industries (MoEI), says 34,000 tons of gasoline has been delivered to the country over the first two months of this year, which is 12,000 tons fewer than in January-February of 2011.
In all, 70,600 tons of oil products have been delivered to Tajikistan over the report period, which is 8,300 tons fewer than in the same period last year, Begahmadov noted.
Meanwhile, LNG deliveries have reportedly increased over the same two-month period more than four times. In January-February this year, 15,000 tons of LNG has been delivered to the country, while only 3,100 tons of LNG was delivered to Tajikistan over the same period last year.
Kazakhstan provides the bulk of Tajikistan”s LNG imports. Five companies are now engaged in delivering LNG to Tajikistan: Faroz; Zetgaz; Tojiron; Gazpromneft-Tajikistan; and Muhammad Poulod.
Meanwhile, diesel fuel deliveries have also increased over the report period – from 17,500 tons in January-February of 2011 to 19,400 tons, Begahmadov added.
Concerning increase in use of liquefied natural gas to drive the country’s cars and trucks, local experts consider that the economics seem to work. Unlike petrol, whose rising prices are causing pain at the pump for consumers, natural gas is cheaper.
Russia is continuing to raise gasoline tariffs for Tajikistan. Thus, according to information posted in Russian government’s official website, the export duty for light oil will be raised from 271.4 U.S. dollars per ton to 304.00 U.S. dollars beginning on April 1. The export duty for gasoline will rise from US$370.10 per ton to US$414.60.
We will recall that Tajikistan was exempted from paying Russian tariffs on oil and gas exports from 1995-2010. On May 1, 2010, Russia cancelled Tajikistan”s tax exemption and the Russian government has regulated the export duty on light oil since the beginning of last year. A sudden spike was reported in May 2011, when export duty for Russian gasoline rose 44 percent as compared with April.
