DUSHANBE, February 1, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik state natural-gas distributor Tojikgaz has paid off its roughly $7 million debt to Uzbekistan, the Tojikgaz director general Fathiddin Muhsiddinov told Asia-Plus on Friday. 

According to hi, it has become possible due to collection funds from two larges nonpayers – Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) and Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems).

“Tojikcement has paid off its $2 million debt and made prepayment in the same amount,” said Muhsiddinov, “Barqi Tojik has also paid off its $5 million.” 

He noted that due to this Uzbekistan has increased daily gas supply to Tajikistan up to 2.04 million cubic meters.

We will recall that Uzbekistan last week cut natural-gas shipments to Tajikistan by one-third due to the roughly $7 million in arrears that Tojikgaz owes to Uzbekistan.   

This year, Tajikistan plans to import 600 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan.