DUSHANBE, October 12, Asia-Plus - “Any sudden spike in fuel prices leads to increase in the prices of basic food products and affects living level of the population,” Yusuf Akhmedov, member of the Majlisi Namoyandgon Committee on International Affairs, Public Associations and Information, said in an interview with Asia-Plus. 

On Uzbekistan’s intention to nearly double the prices of its natural-gas supplies in the coming months, Akhmedov noted that will seriously affect Tajikistan’s economy.  

“On the other hand, Uzbekistan wants to review price policy in line with international standards for calculating shipments and the situation on the world fuel market,” said Akhmedov, “For example, in Europe, 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas cost US$300-US$400”. 

Dwelling on import of natural gas from Uzbekistan, the parliamentarian noted that at present Tajikistan is obliged to pay for Uzbek gas at the price determined by the supplier while ”we could purchase natural gas from Turkmenistan at the rate of US$65 per 1,000 cubic meters, but Uzbekistan does not allow carrying out gas supplies from Turkmenistan via its gas pipelines, pleading different reasons.”   “In other words, we have become victims of excesses committed by the Uzbek authorities,” Akhmedov stressed.  

Commenting on shift to alternate types of fuel, the parliamentarian noted that it will take years.   “It demands dozens of years and big national program,” he stated.  According to him, earlier Tajikistan had received up to 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, while at present it receives only 600 million cubic meters.   

It is necessary to think over the issue of shifting the Dushanbe and Yovon thermal electric power stations and boiler-houses in settlements from natural gas to coal, according to him.