DUSHANBE, January 24, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- There ought not to expect gasoline prices to fall sharply after signing of a government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Russia on duty-free delivery of Russian oil products to Tajikistan, Hamdam Taghoymurodov, the head of the Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, announced at  news conference in Dushanbe on January 24.

According to him, other reasons not allowing to cut fuel prices may occur by that time.  “One of such reasons is transit tariffs imposed by Uzbekistan on fuel deliveries through its territory,” Taghoymurodov noted.   

“Despite increase in wholesale prices for oil products, fuel prices in domestic market remain stable because there is no fuel deficiency in the country,” the antimonopoly agency head noted.

On the difference in gasoline prices in Sughd province and other parts of the country (this difference fluctuates from 1.50 to 2.00 somoni), he noted that the main reason for that price difference was the smuggling of gasoline out of Kyrgyzstan into the Tajik northern province of Sughd.  

In 2012, three fuel supply companies dominated Tajikistan’s fuel market: Gazpromneft-Tajikistan (52 percent); Anahita; and Nouri Dilshod.

Current prices of one liter are 6.70 somoni for 92-octane gasoline and 6.90 95-octane gasoline.

We will recall that Tajikistan and Russia are expected to sign an agreement on duty-free delivery of Russian oil products to Tajikistan during a visit of Russian First Vice-Premier Igor Shuvalov to Tajikistan in February.

Tajikistan was exempted from paying tariffs on Russian oil and gas exports from 1995-2010 and Russia cancelled Tajikistan’s tax exemption on May 1, 2010 that resulted in gasoline prices rising in the country.

Last year, Tajikistan imported little more than 372,000 tons of oil products, 68,000 fewer than in 2011, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

In 2012, the cheapest gasoline was reportedly delivered from Kyrgyzstan – US$913 per ton.

An average price of one ton of Russian gasoline was US$1,199, Turkmen gasoline – US$1,172, and Uzbek gasoline – US$1,044.

An official source at a MoEI noted that a share of Kyrgyzstan in Tajikistan’s fuel imports has increased noticeably -- from 2.0 percent in 2011 to 13 percent in 2012.  Last year, Tajikistan imported 48,500 tons of oil products from Kyrgyzstan.

Russia last year accounted for 55.3 percent (205,000 tons) of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, - Turkmenistan – 17.2 percent (64,100 tons), and Uzbekistan – 0.02 percent (7,100 tons).

Last year, an average price for one ton of gasoline was 1,121 U.S. dollars, one ton of diesel fuel – 1,084 U.S. dollars, and one ton of aviation kerosene – 1,347 U.S. dollars.