DUSHANBE, August 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Uzbekistan has increased natural-gas shipments to Tajikistan as Tajik state natural-gas distributor, Tojikgaz, has partially repaid its roughly $8 million debt to Uzbekistan, Shavkat Shoimov, deputy head of Tojikgaz, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.    

“Since last week, Tajikistan has received Uzbek natural gas at the rate of 35,000 cubic meters per hour (some 840,000 cubic meters per day),” Shoimov said, noting that increase in the Uzbek gas shipments has allowed resuming gas supplies to Tojikazot, which produces mineral fertilizers.  

We will recall that because of shortage of natural-gas supplies Tojikazot had stood idle since late July. 

He further added that a present, only Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco) receives gas supplies regularly, while Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) and Tojik receive natural gas partially.

“We are not going to ask Uzbekistan to increase natural-gas shipments, because the volume of Uzbek natural gas currently supplied to the country is quite enough,” Shoimov said, noting that residential natural-gas customers, who do not have debts, will also receive natural gas.  

We will recall that the Tojikgaz director general Fathiddin Muhsiddinov told Asia-Plus on August 6 that they have transferred $ 3million to Uzbekistan so far, and Tajikistan now owes roughly $5million in arrears to Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan doubled natural-gas shipments to Tajikistan in early August -- from 10,000 cubic meters per hour to 20,000 cubic meters.