DUSHANBE, August 9, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- A large oil refinery with annual capacity of 300,000 tons is expected to be built in southern Tajikistan, an official source at the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon.

According to him, the government made an appropriate decision on constructing the oil refinery in the south of Tajikistan in June this year.  “Preparatory works for the beginning of the construction of the plant are currently under way,” the source said, noting that they have already reached an agreement with a number of oil-exporting countries on delivery of crude oil for that plant.

Meanwhile, the oil refinery with annual capacity of 50,000 tons is expected to be introduced into operation in the Shahrinav district (central Tajikistan) in September this year.  In the future, the capacity of the Shahrinav oil refinery will be increased to 100,000 tons, the source added.

Besides, the oil refinery with annual capacity of 50,000 tons is currently being constructed in the city of Konibodom, Sughd province.

Tajikistan’s annually requirements in oil products now reportedly amount to 800,000 tons.

Last year, Tajikistan reportedly imported 770,000 tons of oil products.  A totaled included 272,000 tons of aviation kerosene, 234,000 tons of gasoline, and 226,000 tons of diesel fuel.  Large consignments of aviation kerosene were then re-exported to Afghanistan.

We will recall that Tajikistan was exempted from paying Russian tariffs on oil and gas exports from 1995-2010.  On May 1, 2010, Russia cancelled Tajikistan''s tax exemption and the Russian government has regulated the export duty on light oil since the beginning of last year.  A sudden spike was reported in May 2011, when export duty for Russian gasoline rose 44 percent as compared with April.

Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly imported 168,900 tons of oil products for 196.9 million U.S. dollars, including 78,700 tons of gasoline for 92.2 million U.S. dollars.

Russia provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.