DUSHANBE, August 1, 2008, Asia-Plus - The price for gas import in Kyrgyzstan may grow twice, Saparbek Balkibekov the Minister of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources said during the government’s session today.

According to the minister next year Uzbekistan may raise gas tariffs twice, up to $300 for a thousand of cubic meters. Now Kyrgyzstan pays $145 for a thousand of cubic meters of the “blue fuel”.  The tariff rise is caused by the global rise tendency.

In first six month of 2008 Kyrgyzstan received 401.01 million cubic meters of natural gas with a 12.8 percent loss. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan managed to shorten debt to Uzbekistan down to $2.4mln, Balkibekov noted.