Against the backcloth of rising liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gasoline prices in in Russia and Kazakhstan, which provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, there is an acute shortage of fuel at gas stations in Tajikistan.
At some refueling stations in Dushanbe, the price for one liter of LNG in Dushanbe has risen to 8.00 somonis, with similar price rises in other parts of the country. At refueling stations where it costs less – up to 7.80 somonis – the sale of LNG is limited.
It is to be noted that more than 60 percent of motor vehicles in the country use liquefied natural gas as fuel.
Meanwhile, the price for one liter of 92-octane gasoline, which is the most sought-after grade of automobile gas in the country, rose in Dushanbe from 11.00 somonis on October 23 to 11.80 somonis on October 24.
Gas station owners say they sell a day's allowance of fuel in two or three hours and close until the next day.
Drivers complain that they are forced to drive from one gas station to another one in Dushanbe in search of the necessary type of fuel.
Thus, one resident of Dushanbe complained Tuesday morning that he was at four refueling stations but couldn’t refuel as there was no gasoline.
Gas station employees say LNG and gasoline wholesale prices are rising and they do not know what the price will be tomorrow.
Private cab drivers – drivers of so-called shared taxis – were the first to react to the price hike, raising the price per seat from 7.00 somonis to 10.00 somonis.
Shared taxis (7.00 somoni/seat) follow a set route. These cars don’t always show their numbers as they are not strictly legal. Often they flash their lights at you and display a number with their fingers or hold up a sign in their hands. Just wave your hand to get their attention. You pay at the beginning of the ride. They appreciate exact change.
As it had been reported earlier, in a move to stabilize domestic fuel prices, Russia, which accounts for 85.4 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, announced a snap ban on diesel and gasoline exports on September 21, amplifying the strain on an already tight global fuel market.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan, which provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s LNG imports (73.6 percent), has set a temporary ban on liquefied petroleum gas exports from the country.
The ban is reportedly introduced for exports of liquefied petroleum gas and butane from Kazakhstan by motor transport for the term of three years, by rail transport – for the term of six months, except liquefied petroleum gas export by subsoil users that produced it within the framework of a production sharing agreement (contract) or a subsoil use contract approved by the president of Kazakhstan.
Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan has imported more than 174,000 tons of gasoline worth more than 100 million US dollars. 30 companies are engaged in delivering petroleum products to Tajikistan; Gazpromneft-Tajikistan accounts for 59 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.
14 companies are engaged in delivering LNG to Tajikistan. Over the same six-month period, they have delivered to the country about 170,000 tons of LNG in an amount of more than 66 million US dollars.
