"At the moment, the amount of our debt to our Uzbek colleagues is US$14.5 million," a press release by the company says.

Uztransgaz, which the only supplier of natural gas to Tajikistan, halved the gas supplies in February due to Tajikistan’s accumulated debt.

"Gas supplies to Tajikistan have now increased by 25%, and will reach their full volume when the debt is fully settled," the Tajik open joint stock company, which is 100% owned by the state, said.