DUSHANBE, October 10, Asia-Plus - Beginning on January 1, 2007 Uzbekistan plans to double the price of natural gas it supplies to Tajikistan.   

Shavkat Shoimov, the first deputy director general of Tojikgaz, Tajik state gas concern, said that they had received an official letter from Uztransgaz, Uzbek gas supply company, which notifies the Tajik side of Uzbekistan’s intention to raise the price of natural gas exported to Tajikistan from US$55.00 to US$100.00 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007.  

According to him, that in January this year they signed a contract with Uztransgaz on purchase of 730 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan at the rate of US$55.00 per 1,000 cubic meters.  

Tajikistan’s annual requirement of natural gas is some 2 billion cubic meters.  Shoimov considers that rise in the gas price will seriously affect Tajik industrial enterprises such as Tojiktsement (cement plant), TojikAzot (fertilizer-producing plant) and TadAZ (Tajik aluminum plant), which are Tajikistan’s largest gas consumers.   

“We have recommended them to use alternate types of fuels; coals, for example,” Shoimov said, noting that he still hopes that Tojikgaz and Uztransgaz will be able to reach compromise.  

Tojikgaz has paid US$2 million of US$4.5 million in arrears to Uztransgaz.  

Experts says Uzbekistan intends to review price policy in line with international standards for calculating shipments and the situation on the world fuel market.