DUSHANBE, January 29, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sharif Rahimzoda, noted on January 29 that he is supporter of stability of prices and opposes reduction or increase of fuel prices.

“It is possible that fuel prices will fell in Tajikistan [following the signing of an agreement between Tajikistan and Russia on duty-free delivery of Russian oil products to Tajikistan], but not more than 10 or 15 percent,” Rahimzoda told journalists.

Asked about his opinion of the proposal by the Ministry of Finance to raise the rate of excise tax on oil products from 40 to 90 euros per one ton, the minister noted that it was necessary to thoroughly study the issue.

Last year, Tajikistan reportedly imported little more than 372,000 tons of oil products, 68,000 fewer than in 2011.  A totaled included 205,000 tons of oil products delivered from Russia, 64,100 tons from Turkmenistan, 48,500 tons from Kyrgyzstan, and 7,100 tons form Uzbekistan.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI), a share of Kyrgyzstan in Tajikistan’s fuel imports has increased noticeably -- from 0.5 percent in 2011 to 13 percent in 2012.  Meanwhile, Russia last year accounted for 55.3 percent of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, Turkmenistan – 17.2 percent, and Uzbekistan – 0.02 percent.