Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 6 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
The Russian and Tajik Energy Ministries signed an agreement on supplying Russian oil to Tajikistan, and a memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector, CA-NEWS reported.
According to the agreement, Russia will supply 1 million tons tax-free petroleum products to Tajikistan per year.
However, the sources close to the negotiations said that the duty-free supplies of Russian oil would begin only in 2013.
According to the Tajik Economic Development and Trade Ministry, the annual demand for petroleum products in the republic amounts to 1.605 million tons. The Ministry forecasts 30-40 percent reduction in gasoline and diesel fuel price in Tajikistan due to Russian oil duty-free supplies.
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan imported light oil products from Russia free of taxes from 1995 to 2010. Russia imposed export duties on light oil for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as the Customs Union non-member states on May 1, 2010.