DUSAHNBE, January 12, Asia-Plus - On Thursday January 11, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) passed a resolution determining new natural-gas rates for all categories of consumers.  

A source at a MoEDT said the new rates had been determined in connection with rise in prices of natural gas imported from Uzbekistan.  

The price of natural gas for all categories of consumers, except TajikAzot and Tojikcement, was determined at the rate of 467.85 somonis (equivalent to more than $136.00) per cubic meters.  For TajikAzot and Tojikcement, the price of natural gas was estimated at the rate of 445.77 somonis (equivalent to some$129.00) per 1,000 meters.  In the last quarter of 2006, the public and enterprise in Tajikistan paid for natural gas at the rate of $80 per 1,000 cubic meters.  

“For the households that do not have gas meters, the natural-gas rate was determined at 11.70 somonis per one family member per month in the winter and period and 9.35 somonis in the winter period,” the MoEDT said.   

 We will recall that under the terms of the deal reached in Tashkent last month, Uzbekistan this year is supplying natural gas to Tajikistan at the rate of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters.  Tajikistan is expected to import at least 700 million cubic meters of Uzbek gas this year.