BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 20. Tajikistan has submitted a request to purchase a total of 2.55 million tonnes of crude oil and petroleum products from Iran. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport, Dushanbe is interested in importing different types of petroleum products from Tehran as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s fuel supply.
The requested volume includes 2 million tonnes of crude oil, 150,000 tonnes of gasoline, 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and 100,000 tonnes of aviation fuel. Together, these supplies would amount to 2.55 million tonnes.
Tajikistan has been holding talks with several countries in recent months to secure additional supplies of petroleum products. In July, the country’s energy minister said discussions on additional fuel deliveries were under way with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq and Belarus.
The Central Asian country currently meets around 80 percent of its demand for petroleum products through imports from Russia. As a result, fuel supply problems in Russia have increased the importance of finding alternative suppliers for Tajikistan.
Russia has faced fuel shortages in its domestic market amid the continuing war in Ukraine. Moscow has also imposed restrictions on fuel exports in an effort to protect domestic supplies.
Against this backdrop, Tajikistan’s negotiations with alternative suppliers, including Iran, are seen as part of Dushanbe’s efforts to strengthen its energy security. Crude oil accounts for the largest share of the volume Tajikistan is seeking from Iran.
The request also comes as US President Donald Trump has warned other countries over trade ties with Iran. It remains unclear how Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Tehran could affect Tajikistan’s planned imports.
