Uzbekneftegaz plans to negotiate with Russia in December about hiking the price for its gas in 2008, RIA Novosti reported with reference to a source in the company.

“The price will be $100 [per a thousand cu meters] till the year-end, but in December, we will hold negotiations to step it up,” the source said without specifying the exact growth.

Uzbekistan is willing to shift from the regional to the world parameters when fixing the price, the source explained, adding that Uzbekistan will attempt to hike the price, as Gazprom agreed to higher prices for the gas of Turkmenistan.

On Tuesday, Gazprom and Turkmenistan agreed that the price for Turkmen gas would go up from today’s $100 per a thousand cu meters to $130 per a thousand cu meters in the first half of 2008 and to $150 per a thousand cu meters in the second half of 2008.

The surge in prices for the gas of Turkmenistan and, potentially, for Uzbek gas will affect Ukraine, which imports the gas of those two states of Asia.