Uzbekistan May Double Gas Prices
July 28, 2006
July 28, 2006 -- Pro-government media outlets in Tashkent report that Uzbekistan is considering doubling the price of exported gas.
They quote unidentified officials with Uzbekneftegaz, the national oil and gas company, as saying the government may soon charge foreign customers between $100 and $120 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, up from a current $55-60.
The officials reportedly said the adjustment to world prices would help Uzbekistan join international projects to export Central Asian gas to Europe.
Uzbekistan ships gas to Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Earlier this month, Uzbekistan suspended its gas exports to Tajikistan over a debt dispute, saying that Dushanbe owes Tashkent $7.3 million for previous deliveries.
After Russia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are the largest producers of natural gas in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
(UzReport, press-uz.info)