The price of liquefied gas, which most cars use in Tajikistan, has become more and more expensive. Some gas stations, such as Gazprom, have been without gas for several days and their tanks are empty.
At other gas stations, one liter of liquid gas costs 7 to 7.5 somoni. It was about three somoni at the beginning of August this year.
Fuel traders did not tell the reason for the sudden increase in gas prices in front of the camera. Representatives of the Antimonopoly Service of Tajikistan called the situation “temporary”. As always, residents are worried about the consequences of high gas prices.
“Gas has become more expensive, but we have to work. Passengers will be affected. If the fare is appropriate, we will take passengers, otherwise we will not go,” said a driver named Habibullah in the city of Khujand.
Another driver, Davlat Nosirov, says, “We come and go, there is no profit left. Everyone works for profit. If the price rises like this, we will have to switch to another job.”
Liquefied gas is cheaper than gasoline, and therefore most drivers in Tajikistan use it.
Representatives of the Antimonopoly Service of Tajikistan said on October 24 that such a process depends on the price of imported gas from Kazakhstan. A large part of liquefied gas comes to Tajikistan from Kazakhstan.
In a report, the Food Program of the United Nations linked the reason for the high cost of fuel to its lower import from abroad. The assessment of this institution, which monitors the prices of products in the country’s markets, was based on the statements of traders.
The rise in fuel prices in Tajikistan is always a source of concern for residents. With the increase in the price of fuel, fares and food will also become more expensive. This day and night, the price of some products, such as flour and butter, “jumped” a little.
In Tajikistan, 14 companies are engaged in the transportation of liquefied gas. Some of these companies are linked to top officials of the country.
Due to the lack of oil and gas processing facilities, Tajikistan buys gasoline from abroad, mainly from Russia and Kazakhstan. According to official information, in the first half of this year, more than 450 thousand tons of oil products were imported into the country.
Some market experts believe that in order to solve the problem, traders should be given relief and the market should be freed from the monopoly of individual companies.
Source : Радио Озоди