A company spokesman told RIA Novosti that Tajikistan’s debt is currently US$7 million, and that "demands to pay the debt have achieved no results, and talks with [Tajik state gas company] Tajikgaz have ended without success."

Uzbekistan’s gas exports to fellow ex-Soviet Central Asian state Tajikistan will now be 1.3 million cubic meters a day, compared to the previous level of 2 million cubic meters.

Under a deal for 2008, Uzbekistan is to supply 650 million cubic meters of gas at US$145 per 1,000 cubic meters.