DUSHANBE, October 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Joint-stock company Tojiktransgaz (Tajik natural-gas distributor) now owes 2.5 million U.S. dollars in arrears to Uztrasngaz (Uzbek gas supplier), the Tojiktransgaz head Saidmahmad Sharofiddinov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 22.

“We plan to make payments this week and the Uzbek gas shipments to the country will increase,” Sharofiddinov said.

According to him, Tajikistan now receives only 12,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas per hour and the Uzbek gas is distributed to the industrial enterprises only.

“European current price of one cubic meter of natural gas is US$253.86,” said the Tojiktransgaz head, “Compared to the third quarter it has increased by US$3.00.  This price does not suit us and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are currently conducting negotiations with Uzbekistan asking Uzbek authorities to review the gas prices.”

As far as the provision of the population with natural gas is concerned, Sharofiddinov noted that gas would be supplied to residential customers in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district beginning on November 1.

We will recall that Tajikistan was supposed to buy 250 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan this year.  The gas prices vary quarterly depending on the world trends and Tajikistan must make prepayments every ten days.