DUSHANBE, November 19, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan says it does not expect any hike in the prices of liquefied gas in the country in the remaining days of November.

“The price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Dushanbe will remain stable,” said an official source the antimonopoly agency.  “Current price for one liter of liquefied gas at the LNG refueling stations in Dushanbe fluctuates from 3.70 to 3.90 somoni.”

We will recall that liquefied gas shortages have affected Tajikistan by the end of summer.  Liquefied gas shortages have led to a new rise in fuel prices in Tajikistan.  The price of one liter of liquefied gas in Dushanbe rose from 2.60 somoni in early August to 3.20 somoni in early September.

Officials at the antimonopoly agency attributed the price hike to the annual planned repairs to the liquefied-gas-producing plants in Kazakhstan, which provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s liquefied gas imports.  Kazakhstan has reportedly limited sales in connection with repairing work.

Over the past year, the number of LNG refueling stations in the country has reportedly been increased from 510 to 526.  The northern Sughd province alone now has 230 LNG refueling stations.

The main suppliers of liquefied gas to Tajikistan are Zet Gaz, Muhammad Poulod (Sughd province), Gazpormneft-Tajikistan, Faroz, and Tojiron.  

Over the first ten months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly imported more than 66,000 tons of liquefied gas, which was 37,600 tons more than in the same period last year.  

According to data of fuel supplying companies, more than 40 percent of vehicles in Tajikistan run on liquefied natural gas.