Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has helped launch a new oil refinery as his country continues to try to alleviate its chronic energy shortages.
Rahmon was in the town of Shahrinau on July 20 for the opening of the new refinery, which has a capacity to process some 100,000 tons of oil per year.
Russia will reportedly supply the crude oil for the refinery but there were no details on the amount of oil Russia is contracted to deliver.
Tajikistan has been dependent mainly on Russia and Kazakhstan for processed petroleum products, such as gasoline for automobiles, but rising tariffs and excise fees have often had a severe impact on the ability of motorists to fill up their gas tanks and the increased fuel costs have led to increased prices for food and other essential items.
Rahmon was in the town of Shahrinau on July 20 for the opening of the new refinery, which has a capacity to process some 100,000 tons of oil per year.
Russia will reportedly supply the crude oil for the refinery but there were no details on the amount of oil Russia is contracted to deliver.
Tajikistan has been dependent mainly on Russia and Kazakhstan for processed petroleum products, such as gasoline for automobiles, but rising tariffs and excise fees have often had a severe impact on the ability of motorists to fill up their gas tanks and the increased fuel costs have led to increased prices for food and other essential items.