In Dushanbe, liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices have risen 12.3 percent overnight – from 6.50 somonis per liter on March 10 to 7.30 somonis per liter on March 11.
It is to be noted that more than 60 percent of the country's motor vehicles use liquefied natural gas as fuel.
Gasoline and diesel fuel also continue to rise in price.
Thus, the price of one liter of 92-octane gasoline, which is the most sought-after grade of automobile gas in the country, in Dushanbe rose from 11.70 somonis on March 10 to 12.00 somonis on March 11 (a 2.6-percent increase).The price of one liter of diesel fuel in Dushanbe rose from 12.00 somonis on March 10 to 12.50 somonis (a 4.2-percent increase).
It is to be noted that gasoline and diesel fuel prices in Dushanbe have jumped significantly since the beginning of this month.
The price the 92-octane gasoline in Dushanbe rose from 10.00 somonis per liter on February 28 to 11.70 somonis on March 10 (a 17-percent increase).
The price of one liter of diesel fuel in Dushanbe rose from 10.20 somonis on February 28 to 12.00 somonis on March 10 (a 17.7-percent increase).
Independent experts consider that the price hike has resulted from the rising cost of petroleum against the backcloth of the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict, the increase in demand for petroleum products and the rise in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in Tajikistan’s internal currency market.
A sudden spike in gas prices will lead to increase in the price of basic food products in Tajikistan
Last year, Tajikistan reportedly imported about 620,000 tons of petroleum products, which was 60 percent more than in 2020.
In 2021, about 87 percent of petroleum products came more Russia, 7.3 percent from Kazakhstan, 2.6 percent from Uzbekistan, 2.4 percent from Turkmenistan, and the rest came from other countries.
Last year, one ton of fuel cost on average US$667.00, which was US$200.00 more than in 2020.
Kazakhstan provides the bulk of Tajikistan's liquefied natural gas imports (93 percent of the country's overall LNG imports).
The Antimonopoly Agency specialists had earlier said that fuel prices are usually frozen or even fall in winter due to a decline in demand and they rise in summer and autumn as the countries providing the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports limit sales in connection with harvest seasons.
