DUSHANBE, July 8, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Fuel smuggling out of Kyrgyzstan into Tajikistan is reportedly going on.

In a report released at a news conference in Bishkek, Zhumakydar Akeneyev, President of the Association of Oil Traders of Kyrgyzstan, revealed on July 7 that up to 1,000 tons of fuels are smuggled out of Kyrgyzstan into Tajikistan per day.

“We set gasoline purchase limits in southern regions, because a large consignment of fuels is being smuggled into Tajikistan via the Batken region, said Akeneyev.  “We are just forced to set these limits.”

It is not the first time that Kyrgyz officials warn against fuel smuggling.  We will recall that Business AKIpress on May 10 quoted Kyrgyz customs service chief Kubanychbek Kulmatov as saying that fuel smuggling out of Kyrgyzstan into Tajikistan will increase, depending on Tajikistan’s requirements in oil products.

He noted that like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan also receives oil products mainly from Russia, but Russia has imposed an export duty on light oil for Tajikistan.  “Current price for one liter of diesel fuel in Kyrgyzstan is 52.00-53.00 som and variation of diesel prices in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is now very high,” said Kulmatov, “Our border with Uzbekistan is currently more or less controlled, while our common border with Tajikistan is practically open…”

It is to be noted that as of July 7, 2011, the exchange rate of the dollar against the Kyrgyz national currency, the som, was 1:45.2555, while the official exchange rate of the dollar against the Tajik national currency, the somoni, set by the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) is 1:4.6772 (the exchange rate of the dollar against the somoni in the currency exchanges offices is 1:4.78).  Current price for one liter of diesel fuel in Tajikistan is reportedly 6.00 somoni.