DUSHANBE, December 27, Asia-Plus - Fathiddin Mukhsiddinov, director general of Tojikgaz, Tajik gas concern, today said an agreement had been reached on how much neighboring Uzbekistan will charge Tajikistan for natural gas supplies next year.

According to him, a deal was reached in Tashkent in the beginning of this week.  He did not specify the date.  The Tajik gas concern head said that under the agreement Uzbekistan will supply natural gas to Tajikistan at a rate of 100 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters beginning on January 1.  

Tajikistan currently pays 55 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas imported from Uzbekistan.

Under the deal Tajikistan is scheduled to buy 750 million cubic meters of Uzbek gas next year, according to Mukhsiddinov.

“Currently, the government is considering the price of natural gas for the public,” said the Tajik gas concern head, “The price for the public will probably be determined at the rate of US$130.00 per 1,000 cubic meters.”  Mukhsiddinov added that in the coming years, Uzbekistan will remain the main supplier of natural gas to Tajikistan.