DUSHANBE, September 13, 2012, Asia-Plus — There are long lines at liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations in Khujand waiting for liquefied gas.
The majority of LNG refueling stations in the northern Sughd province has not been in operation in recent days because of acute liquefied gas shortages.
The Sughd regional administrators assure that the situation will change for the better soon as nineteen freight cars carrying liquefied gas arrived in Khujand on September 11 and eight other freight cars carrying liquefied gas arrived in Khujand on September 12.
Qobiljon Usmonov, the head of the Sughd transport and communications department, says that one of the main suppliers of liquefied gas to the province is Khujandnaftugaz (oil and gas supply company).
According to him, the province has 230 LNG refueling stations and half of them have not operated because of acute shortage of liquefied gas.
“Some 65-70 percent of the public transport in northern Tajikistan runs on liquefied gas,” Usmonov said. He added that there are no problems with natural gas and gasoline supplies to the area.
The price of one liter of liquefied gas has risen in Sughd from 1.80 somoni in late July to 3.70 somoni.
Local officials say the price hike has resulted from the rising cost of liquefied gas in Russia and Kazakhstan, which provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s liquefied gas imports.
Local residents, however, consider that the price hike has been caused by speculation.
According to the statistical data from the Sughd customs directorate, 49,825 tons of liquefied gas have been delivered to the province over the first eight months of this year, which is 32,125 tons fewer than in the same period last year.
