Tajikistan says it has 60 days' fuel in reserve amid Russian supply crunch
Tajikistan's energy minister said that the country has around 60 days of fuel reserves and is in talks with nearby countries about future supplies, amid acute fuel shortages in major trade partner Russia, the local branch of U.S.-funded broadcaster reported on Friday.
Radio Ozodi cited the minister, Daler Juma, as saying: "The export of certain types of petroleum products from Russia to Tajikistan is continuing. At the same time, certain difficulties persist."
The broadcaster cited the minister as saying that Tajikistan was working with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Iran, and Belarus to ensure it has the fuel it needs.
Tajikistan, a country of around 11 million that borders China and Afghanistan, is heavily dependent for fuel supplies on Russia, with which it is closely allied.
Moscow this month banned diesel exports, amid a major decline in production as a result of an escalating Ukrainian drone campaign against its oil refineries, threatening fuel shortages in countries dependent on imports from Russia.
Fuel prices have risen in recent weeks in Central Asia, as the strikes have caused an acute fuel supply crunch in Russia, and led to shortages across the country's 11 time zones.
Kyrgyzstan, another Central Asian former Soviet republic that borders Tajikistan to the north, has said it has reached agreements with Belarus and China to supply fuel amid the Russian shortages.
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