Tajikistan Cites Uzbek Notice On Gas Price Hike

October 10, 2006 -- A senior official with Tajikistan's national gas company today said Uzbekistan has warned it will nearly double the price of its natural-gas exports in the coming months.
Tajikgaz First Deputy General Director Shavkat Shoimov said the company received a letter from Uzbekistan's Uztransgaz saying it will charge Tajikistan $100 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in 2007.

Tajikistan currently pays $55 per 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas.

Shoimov said Tajikistan hoped to convince Uzbekistan to raise the price of its gas supplies progressively.

Tajikgaz recently had to borrow from a Tajik bank to pay for previous Uzbek gas deliveries. The company says it currently owes Uztransgaz more than $2 million.

Uzbekistan has said that it is considering doubling the price of its gas exports to other countries as well.

(Asia-Plus, Avesta, Interfax)