“The price is, frankly speaking, stunning, and we never expected from the Uzbek side such a sharp price rise at the time when gas exporting countries in the whole world are reducing the price of “blue fuel,” Mukhsiddinov stressed.

According to him, “nevertheless, the Tajik side continues talks insisting on the reduction of the cost of gas, believing that in conditions of the crisis and the total slump in prices even US$145 is a too high figure.”

Tajikistan, having major reserves of gas, annually imports it from Uzbekistan. At the same time, it is expected that in the coming two or three years the country will be able to completely satisfy its requirements in this kind of fuel. At present, Russia’s Gazprom is developing four promising gas fields in Tajikistan and the well-known Canadian company Tethys Petroleum is also active.