DUSHANBE, December 25, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tojiktransgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) is continuing negotiations with the Uzbek natural-gas supplier, Uztransgaz, on gas shipments to Tajikistan in 2010, the source at Tojiktransgaz said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the next round of negotiations on this subject is beginning in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today.

“On Wednesday December 23, the Uzbek side noted that it will keep the 2009 gas price – 240 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, and they demand prepayment for gas deliveries” the source said, noting that Tojiktransgaz is currently studying Uzbek gas supplier’s proposal.

In the meantime, Tajikistan wants Uzbekistan to decrease its gas price.  We will recall that Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on December 14 that speaking in an interview with RF/RL, the Tojiktransgaz head Saidmamad Shoriddinov said world gas prices have fallen and therefore Tashkent should decrease its price as well.  He added that Tajikistan expects Uzbekistan to decrease its price for gas by 30 percent.