QURGHON TEPPA, January 25, 2011 Asia-Plus  -- Price of domestic natural gas has risen 50 percent in the Valkhsh Valley (Qurghon Teppa zone) of Khatlon province.

The head of Qurghonteppagaz (Qurghon Teppa natural-gas distributor) Mahmoudjon Khorkashev told Asia-Plus that they recently received an official letter from the state unitary enterprise, Neftegaz (gas and oil extraction committee), requiring to raise the price of natural gas extracted at the Qiziltumshuq field in Khatlon’s Rumi district by 50 percent.

“The price of 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas from the Qiziltumshuq field rose from 295.00 to 458.00 somoni,” said Khorkashev.  “Besides, we must pay Tojiktransgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) for gas delivery services at the rate of 41.00 somoni per 1,000 cubic meters.”

According to the preliminary data, the price of one cubic meter of natural gas for residential customers rose to 79 dirams (0.79 somoni), while, they had previously paid 56 dirams for one cubic meter of natural gas.