Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan.9 / Trend, Trend D.Azizov /
The Uzbek government has introduced a non-taxable special investment premium of 200 sums per cubic meter to the wholesale price of natural gas sold by CNG filling stations, Joint-Stock Company Uztransgaz, which controls gas transportation and supply activities in the country told Trend on Wednesday.
According to the company, current rate of tax from physical entities for the consumption of liquefied gas to the amount of 175 sums per cubic meter is maintained.
As a result, the retail price of vehicle methane increased by 1.3 times up to 880 sums per cubic meter.
The introduction of the investment premium according to the government's decision will be transferred to the special account of the National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz and used to finance investment projects.
According to statistics, currently about three million vehicles are used in Uzbekistan, about 15 per cent of which run on gas.
As was previously reported, in early 2007, the Uzbek government adopted a phased programme of the transfer of motor transport in Uzbekistan to gas engine fuel by late 2012.
The official exchange rate is 1 985.55 sums to $1 on Jan.9.