Kyrgyzstan owed $ 3 million to Uzbekistan for natural gas consumed under the contract for 2010. OJSC "Uztransgaz" confirmed this information to 24.kg news agency, but public corporation "Kyrgyzgaz" denied it.
The official representative of "Kyrgyzgaz" Eugene Orlenko told the news agency that "just yesterday the company's management ordered to repay all debts for the Uzbek partners, and as far as I know, we will settle the whole amount of debt today".
However, "Uztransgaz" informed that "they did not receive even a penny of $ 3 million of debt owed by Kyrgyzstan as of December 15".
Kyrgyzgaz reported that the negotiations with the Uzbek side on the supply of natural gas for 2011 have been already held, but no document signed yet. The company also refused to make public the cost of natural gas for 2011.
Recall, according to the contract between "Kyrgyzgaz" and "Uztransgaz", providing fuel supply in 2010, Kyrgyzstan pays $ 240 per thousand cubic meters of gas.
According to a source of 24.kg news agency in the technical apparatus of the Government, negotiations between the two companies of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is in a dead-lock. Next week First Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Amangeldy Muraliev is expected to arrive in Tashkent with a working visit. Amangeldy Muraliev will resume discussions on natural gas supplies for 2011. Officials have already sent to "Uztransgaz" their proposals. As the source notes, the official Bishkek requests Uzbek partners to sign a contract to supply natural gas for 2011 at $ 140 per thousand cubic meters.
Note, in addition to this debt, Kyrgyzstan owed to KazTransGaz almost $ 18 million.
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