Tajikistan has significantly increased imports of natural gas from Uzbekistan, Asia-Plus reports.

In a report released on July 15 at a news conference in Dushanbe, the deputy head of Open Joint-Stock Company Tojiktransgaz Shavkat Shoimzoda noted that Tajikistan has imported more than $8.7 million worth natural gas from Uzbekistan (around 70 million cubic meters) over the first six months of this year.   

During the last year, after Uzbekistan resumed delivering natural gas to Tajikistan in April, Tajikistan imported 54 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan, Shoimzoda said.

According to him, Uzbek natural gas is currently consumed by industrial enterprises.  The main consumer of the Uzbek natural gas in Tajikistan is the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO).  It consumes some 80% of the country’s natural gas imports.

Under a deal reached in March of 2018 between the two nations’ presidents, Uzbekistan pledged to deliver 126 million cubic meters of gas for $15.1 million last year.  

The gas is funneled to Tajikistan through the Muzrabad-Dushanbe pipeline.  

Uzbekistan stopped gas deliveries via pipeline to Tajikistan on December 31, 2012 after both sides failed to agree on gas prices following the expiration of their contract.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan’s only supplier of gas, routinely suspended gas deliveries to its neighbor amid complaints of nonpayment.

Uzbek natural gas prices varied quarterly depending on the world trends and Tajikistan had to make prepayments every ten days.

In 2012, an average price for 1,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas in Tajikistan was $300.  In 2012, Tajikistan received 132.4 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan, 46.6 million cubic meters fewer than in 2011.