The negotiations are led by representatives of Uzbek state-owned gas export operator Uztransgaz and Tajikistan state gas major Tajikgaz.

Earlier Uztransgaz announced its intentions to start exporting gas to Tajikistan at world market prices, without setting a specific figure. Tajikistan, however, will try to keep the gas price increase as low as possible, Tajikgaz director Fatkhidin Makhsidinov said.

Under an earlier contract Tajikgaz’ imports for 2007 were set at a total of 700 million cu m of gas from Uzbekistan at a price of US$100 (68) per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. However, Tajikistan will receive no more than 630 million to 650 million cubic meters of gas for the whole year, since not all Tajik industrial producers have the capacity to utilise all the gas they ordered earlier, Fatkhidin Fakhsidinov, Tajikgaz deputy director said.