Tajikistan bought three times more fuel from neighboring countries - media

Tajikistan bought three times more fuel from neighboring countries — media

According to Reuters, The Moscow Times, Tajikistan imported three times more fuel from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in July than in June. The total volume purchased from neighbors in the region amounted to 34 thousand tons.

Tajikistan increased its purchases of fuel from neighboring countries due to a decrease in supplies from Russia. This is due to the fuel crisis that has arisen in Russia against the background of drone attacks on Ukrainian oil refineries (NRZ).

According to Reuters sources, in July, gasoline supplies from Russia to Tajikistan decreased by half compared to June - to 14 thousand tons, and diesel fuel - by 2% - to 30 thousand tons. Jet fuel was not supplied at all. At the same time, gasoline purchases from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan increased in July from 8.4 thousand tons to 13.8 thousand tons, diesel fuel from 2.4 thousand tons to 17.6 thousand tons, and jet fuel from 316 tons to 2.5 thousand tons.

The Tajik Ministry of Transport confirmed on August 6 that the government is looking for alternative sources of fuel supplies. The main focus is on Kazakhstan. Negotiations are also underway with China, Turkmenistan, Iran and Belarus. The ministry said that the fuel crisis was caused by "military operations in the Middle East".

Against the background of supply disruptions, the retail price of AI-92 gasoline in the country rose to 12-12.5 somoni (15-16 thousand somoni) per liter in early August, compared to 11-11.2 somoni in early June. Diesel fuel has risen in price by 16-18.5 somoni (about 21-24 thousand somoni).

In addition to Tajikistan, other countries have also faced the fuel crisis caused by the decrease in supplies from Russia. Kyrgyzstan has asked Uzbekistan to supply 20 thousand tons of petroleum products per month, and is also continuing negotiations with Belarus, China, Azerbaijan and Turkey on additional purchases. In Mongolia, which depends on Russia for 95 percent of its fuel imports, strict restrictions have been imposed on the sale of gasoline to drivers. Ukraine has managed to shut down almost half (45 percent) of its nominal oil refining capacity in Russia and a third (33 percent) of its operating capacity.