Tajikistan intends to increase natural gas imports from Uzbekistan.
Tojiktransgaz (Tajikistan’s natural gas-distribution company) says they are rehabilitating the natural gas distribution system so that natural gas would be available to residential customers as well.
“First of all, we plan to gradually connect residential customers in Dushanbe and Khujand to the gas pipeline,” a source within Tojiktransgaz told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Dushanbegaz (Dushanbe gas-distribution company) had earlier noted that some residential buildings located near the gas pipeline no receive Uzbek natural gas.
“The fact is that to connect these residential buildings to the gas pipeline did not take much to spend,” the source said, adding that work on rehabilitation of the Dushanbe gas-distribution infrastructure is under way and Uzbek natural gas will be available to other residential customers as well.
Meanwhile, Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) Somon-Sughdgaz (Sughd gas-distribution company) has noted recently that it plans to complete the work on rehabilitation of the gas-distribution infrastructure in the province by the end of this year.
Uzbekistan resumed delivering natural gas to Tajikistan in April 2018, ending a six-year hiatus precipitated by diplomatic differences. Under a deal reached in March of 2018 between the two nations’ presidents, Uzbekistan pledged to deliver 126 million cubic meters of gas for $15.1 million in 2018.
The gas is funneled t Tajikistan through the Muzrabad-Dushanbe pipeline.
During 2018, Tajikistan reportedly imported US$6.9 million worth of 55 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan.
In 2019, Tajikistan significantly increased imports of natural gas from neighboring Uzbekistan. Last year, Tajikistan imported 140 million cubic meters of Uzbek natural gas in the amount of US$17.7 million.
According to data from the Uzbek Ministry of Energy, Tajikistan has imported 139.5 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan over the first eight months of this year. In all, Tajikistan will import 200 million cubic meters of Uzbek natural gas this year.
Uzbek natural gas is currently consumed by industrial enterprises. The main consumer of the Uzbek natural gas in Tajikistan is the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO). According to some sources, it consumes some 80 percent of the country’s natural gas imports.
Meanwhile, the issues of the supply of Uzbek natural gas deliveries to Tajikistan and prices for them for 2021 are expected to be coordinated at the meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek commission for economic and trade cooperation that is expected to take place in Dushanbe from September 28-29.
Recall, 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.
