DUSHANBE, December 8, Asia-Plus - Preliminary talks between Tajik national gas concern and Uzbekistan’s Uztransgaz (Uzbek gas supply company) in Tashkent on December 7 ended unsuccessfully.

Fathiddin Mukhsiddinov, head of Tajik national concern, Tojikgaz, told Asia-Plus that the Tajik side had tried to get a reduction on the new price that Uzbekistan plans to charge its foreign customers in 2007.  According to him, Tajikistan plans to import not more than 650 million cubic meters of gas from Uzbekistan next year.   

Uzbekistan said in October that it will increase the price of its natural-gas supplies to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007.  Tajikistan currently pays $55 per 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas.

“The parties did not reach a consensus on the reduction in the new prices,” said Mukhsiddinov, “However, the consultations to get the reduction will continue and the next round of the talks will be held in January 2007 and we will an agreement on natural-gas supplies.”      

This year, Tajikistan was supposed to have imported 750 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan but because of financial shortages Tojikgaz has reduced the Uzbek gas imports to 610 million cubic meters this year. 

“Tajikistan has to date received 550 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan,” Mukhsiddinov said, noting that remaining 60 million cubic meters will be enough only until mid-January.