DUSHANBE, December 11, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- In the fuel balance submitted for consideration to the Russian side, Tajikistan has noted that it needs more than one million ton of oil products from the Russian Federation, according to the Ministry Energy and Industries (MoEi).

“The Russian side has not yet replied to Tajikistan’s request,” said the source at a MoEI.  “We have invited representatives from Russia’s Ministries of Energy and Economic Development to arrive in Dushanbe to discuss and sign the fuel balance.  I think the issue will be resolved until the end of this year.”

According to him, if the fuel balance is approved, a government-to-government agreement will be signed on the basis of the balance and Russia will begin to consider the possibility of restoration of the tax-free status for oil and gas exports to Tajikistan.

The issue over Russian gasoline exports to Tajikistan is expected to be resolved on December 20, during informal summits of the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).  “We do not yet know exactly whether the fuel issues will be discussed during these meetings but we hope the issue will be resolved in the near future,” the source added.

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 this year.  A sudden spike was reported in May, when export duty for Russian gasoline rose 44 percent as compared with April.

By Russian government’s decree export duty on light oil was decreased from US$271.50 per ton to US$259.30 beginning on November 1, 2011.  The export duty for gasoline was decreased from US$370.20 to US$353.70.

It is to be noted that it was the fourth decrease in export duty for Russian oil products this year.  The first decrease in export duty for Russian oil products was reported on July 1 this year, when the export duty on light oil decreased from US$309.60 to US$298.20 per ton and the export duty for gasoline was decreased from US$415.80 to US$400.50, the second decrease was reported on Augustq, when Russia decreased export duty on light oil from US$298.20 per ton to US$293.60 and the export duty for gasoline from US$400.50 to US$394.40, and the third decrease was reported on October 1, when Russia decreased export duty on light oil was from US$297.00 per ton to US$271.50 and the export duty for gasoline was decreased from US$399.00 to US$370.20.

In September, Russia, however, raised export duty on light oil is raised from US$293.60 per ton to US$297.50 and the export duty for gasoline from US$394.40 to US$399.70.

Russia now accounts for some 90 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports and an average gasoline price in Tajikistan has reportedly risen 59 percent since the beginning of this year.  

National investment and grant program presented in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, December 12, 2011, Asia-Plus /Payrav Chorshanbiyev/ -- The national program of investments, grants and capital development designed for 2012-2014 was presented in Dushanbe on December 9.

According to the Ministry of economic Development and Trade (MEDT), the investment project development methodology was presented on the sidelines of the event that brought together senior representatives from relevant ministries and agencies as well as partners for development.

The national program of investments, grants and capital development was presented by the MEDT Main Directorate for Forecasting Investment Policy.

The program was reportedly worked out by the MEDT for the purpose of attracting foreign investments for implementation of national development projects and reduction in the number of half-finished facilities.

The program is dedicated to promote the provision of industrial enterprises with electrical power, the construction of highways and railroads, the provision of consumer market with domestic products and the development of the country’s export capacities, the source said.