Since the beginning of next year, Tajikistan plans to restore the interrupted supply of natural gas from Uzbekistan five years ago. Appropriate verbal agreements already exist, at present the gas distribution company of Tajikistan finds out the need of the country's industrial enterprises in "blue fuel", after which it will be possible to speak specifically.
The first round of talks on the resumption of natural gas supplies between JSC "Tajiktransgaz" and JSC "Uztransgaz" was held in the framework of the Tajik-Uzbek dialogue on energy cooperation a month ago in Termez. Then, along with the "gas issue", it was also about restoring the unified energy system of Central Asia and the mutual supply of electricity.
At the beginning of November, representatives of the gas distribution companies of the two countries met in Tashkent, where they discussed the cost and volumes of possible supplies of Uzbek gas to Tajikistan.
Secret negotiations
In "Tajiktransgaz" they prefer not to spread about the negotiations yet, fearing that journalists can damage the process with their publications. The company refuses to clarify the state of the domestic infrastructure, as well as to name potential consumers who will receive Uzbek gas. Close to the gas distributing company sources say that the issue of supplying the population with imported "blue fuel" is not even considered at the moment. "Nobody yet thinks about supplying the population with Uzbek gas. It is unlikely that this will be feasible even in the coming years. To do this, it will be necessary to bring the infrastructure in full order, which has not actually been used for almost ten years. After all, joking with gas is unsafe, the slightest flaws can lead to the most serious consequences. In addition, taking into account the experience of past years, there are doubts that the population will be able to timely pay for imported fuel ", – the source said.
The interlocutor noted that at present "Tajiktransgaz" works exclusively with industrial enterprises that may be interested in obtaining natural gas. "After clarifying the readiness and needs of enterprises, Uztransgaz will be offered a specific requested volume, on the basis of which the parties will agree on the cost of fuel," the source added.
It is expected that by the end of the year all these issues will be agreed upon and the parties will sign an annual contract on the basis of which from the beginning of 2018 Uzbek gas will again arrive in Tajikistan.
