Over the first nine months of this year, Uzbekistan has supplied more than 77.1 million cubic meters of natural gas for about 9.8 million U.S. dollars to Tajikistan, according to the Monitoring and Early Warning in Tajikistan monthly report for October 2019.
The main consumer of Uzbek gas is the Tajik aluminum smelter. Some other Tajik industrial enterprises located in Tursunzoda and Hisor not far from the central pipeline.
After rehabilitation of the gas-distribution infrastructure residential consumers will also receive Uzbek natural gas.
Recall, Uzbekistan resumed delivering natural gas to neighboring Tajikistan in April last year after a six-year interruption.
Under a deal reached between the two nations’ presidents in March last year, Uzbekistan pledged to deliver 126 million cubic meters of gas for $15.1 million in 2018. At $120 per 1,000 cubic meters, that translates into substantially favorable rates.
However, Tajikistan last year received 54 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan. The gas has been funneled through the Muzrabad-Dushanbe pipeline.
Uzbekistan stopped gas deliveries via pipeline to Tajikistan on December 31, 2012 after both sides failed to agree on gas prices following the expiration of their contract.
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan’s only supplier of gas, routinely suspended gas deliveries to its neighbor amid complaints of nonpayment.
Uzbek natural gas prices varied quarterly depending on the world trends and Tajikistan had to make prepayments every ten days.
In 2010, an average price of 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek natural gas for Tajikistan was US$240.00; in the first quarter of 2010, the price of 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas was US$231.00 and in the fourth quarter, it rose to US$254.00.
In the first quarter of 2011, Tajikistan was buying natural gas from Uzbekistan for US$227.85 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the price for the second quarter was US$249.19 per 1,000 cubic meters. In the third quarter, Tajikistan was buying natural gas from Uzbekistan for US$284.33 per 1,000 cubic meters and the price for the fourth quarter was US$311.00.
In 2012, an average price for 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas in Tajikistan was 300.00 U.S. dollars. In 2012, Tajikistan received 132.4 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan, 46.6 million cubic meters fewer than in 2011.
Signs of a thaw in relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan emerged in September 2016. In the years since independence, bilateral relations have been plagued by mistrust, disputes over water resources and outright hostility. Both sides have adopted a series of punitive measures against each other. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed interest in “resetting” relations with Tajikistan.
