DUSHANBE, January 20, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Inspections conducted by specialists from the Agency for Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection (Tojikstandart) last year detected some 200 tons of substandard oil products, Tojikstandart director Bakhtiyor Shukurov told journalists in Dushanbe on January 20.

According to him, a totaled included 109 tons of gasoline, 60 tons of bitumen, 30.2 tons of diesel fuel, 200 kilograms of lubricating oil, etc.

In all, Tojikstandart specialists conducted more than 2,800 inspections of oil products for compliance with quality standards, Shukurov added.  

According to statistical data from the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), Tajikistan imported 383,003 tons of oil products last year, which was 10,795 tons more than in 2012.

A totaled included 137,700 tons of gasoline, 147,832 tons of diesel fuel, 57,771 tons of aviation fuel, 14,700 tons of fuel oil, 17,023 tons of bitumen, and 10,847 tons of engine oil.  

Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan reportedly provided the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports last year.

In 2013, Russia reportedly accounted for 40.1 percent (153,450 tons) of Tajikistan’s fuel imports while Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan accounted for than 39 (151,542 tons) and 10.6 percent (40,321 tons) respectively.

Oil product deliveries from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan reportedly amounted to 18,159 tons (4.7 percent) and 2,287 tons (0.6 percent respectively).

Last year’s average gasoline prices were 1,169 USD for one ton of Russian gasoline, 899.00 USD for gasoline imported from Kyrgyzstan, 894.00 USD for one ton of Kazakh gasoline, 1,346 USD for one ton of Turkmen gasoline, and 1,464 USD for one ton of Azeri gasoline.