Minister of Finance: “Proposal to stabilize the situation at gas stations is being developed” 

On January 1, 2019, in some parts of the country, the prices for services at the methane gas refilling stations increased sharply. This is observed for the second time in the past three months. Kun.uz correspondent reported about it.

At the same time, one cubic meter of methane gas at the auto gas compressing stations (AGCS) increased on an average of 300-400 soums and the most expensive price was 2,200 soums. Such a situation was observed in November 2018 at all stations across the country last time. The payment for gas over the limit was set at 2 coefficients and this was the reason why the price of the service increased sharply. At that time, “Uzbekneftegaz” provided additional 40 million cubic meters of gas in November to prevent gas shortage at AGCS.

Starting from January 1, among the AGCS expenses, the social tax has increased by 55 soums, as well as the issue of payment for excess gas consumption at 2 coefficients has not yet been resolved. The problem is that the resource has never been fully supplied based on the demand of gas stations. Therefore, they are subject to limitations on gas sales. If the sale exceeds this set limit, price of the supplied gas will be doubled. Entrepreneurs will serve defining the higher price for the sale of gas, which they buy at a different price up to the limit and after.

If the gas station did not work after a limit was over or forced to close, we saw the situation in December – this led to a rise in transportation and logistics costs.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkorov reported to Kun.uz that it is expected to cancel payment of 2 coefficients for excess gas consumption. In practice, a proposal for stabilizing the situation is being developed at the gas stations.

Interestingly, the similar statement from a representative of the Ministry was commented on last November: “At the moment, proposals on introducing amendments and addenda to existing procedures are being considered on this issue. This change can be reflected on the amount of coefficient for gas consumption that exceeds the limits”.