DUSHANBE, April 19, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- The monthly report for April 2013, Monitoring and Early Warning in Tajikistan , notes that over the first thee months of this year, Tajikistan has imported 41,799.6 tons of liquefied gas from Kazakhstan, which is 23,685.1 tons more than in the same period last year.

In March 2013 imports of liquefied gas reportedly totaled 32,093.9 tons.  Due to high petrol prices, more than 40% of country’s transportation uses liquefied gas.

The report also says that piped natural gas is no longer being imported to Tajikistan from Uzbekistan as the supply contract, which expired at the end of 2012, has not been renewed.

Tajikistan itself produces a limited quantity of natural gas.  Historically, the major supply of (piped) natural gas has been Uzbekistan, with the major users being industry, particularly TALCO and Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant).  Most domestic use of piped gas stopped due to cost and supply problems.

“TALCO is currently using “synthetic” gas produced from coal, while Tojikcement has stopped using piped gas and is not producing cement at present, the report says.

The report also notes that during March, petrol and diesel prices decreased in Dushanbe, and remained unchanged in Khujand and Qurghon Teppa, compared to the previous month.  An expected reduction in Russian export tariffs will reportedly take effect later in 2013.