KABUL would import 50,000 tonnes of fuel from neighbouring Turkmenistan in the near future, the minister of commerce and industries said on Tuesday.
A delegation would be sent on December 28 to Turkmenistan, which had agreed to sign an agreement in this regard, minister, Anwarul Haq Ahadi told a news conference in Kabul.
He said 20,000 tonnes of petrol, as much diesel and 10,000 tonnes of liquefied gas would be imported at a low cost under the proposed agreement. However, the minister did not give details of the cost.
On Monday, the ministry spokesman, Wahidullah Ghazikhel, said it had purchased 10,000 tonnes of liquefied gas which would be available in Kabul utility stores for 55 afghanis ($1.12) a kilogram and 60afs in private stores.
Before Eidul Adha, one kg of gas sold for 55afs, but currently the rate hovers between 80afs and 90afs.
In compliance with President Hamid Karzai’s directives, the ministry purchased 3,000 tonnes of gas from importers at the Hairatan Port in northern Balkh province and another 7,000 tonnes at the Torghundi Port in western Herat province.
According to the spokesman, the first convoy of trucks carrying the gas would be reaching Kabul this weekend.
Ahadi told reporters the Ministry of Finance had been asked for $50 million to enable state-owned enterprises to purchase fuel from other countries said to cope with the problem of increasing prices,.
frm/mud
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