DUSHANBE, March 3, Asia-Plus  -- Rise in gasoline prices is not expected in the first half-year of 2008, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT).

The source at a MoEDT said that the gasoline prices could rise in August or September, when Russia and Kazakhstan, which provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, usually limit sales in connection with harvest season.   

According to him, another reason for rise in prices of petroleum products is an artificial deficiency, which is created by oil product suppliers.  

According to figures provided by the MoEDT, some 31, 000 tons of gasoline and more than 19,000 of diesel fuel were delivered to the country in January, while Tajikistan’s monthly requirements in petroleum products are 18,000-19,000 tons.  

The ministry says the limited liability company Gazpromneft-Tajikistan, which is subsidiary of Russia’s state company Gazprom, is now Tajikistan’s largest oil product supplier.  Over the first ten days of February, Gazpromneft-Tajikistan has supplied more than 5,700 tons gasoline to Tajikistan.  Over the report period, the limited liability companies Markazi Hamsolon and Nouri Dilshod have delivered more than 2,000 tons and 874 tons respectively.  

Oil products are delivered to Tajikistan mainly by private companies.  

In January-February this year, Russia accounted for 74 percent of the total volume of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, Kazakhstan accounted for 17, Uzbekistan accounted for 7 percent, and Turkmenistan accounted for 3.6 percent.