DUSHANBE, October 22, 2008, Asia-Plus — “Prices of Russian electrical power and natural gas are much higher than prices of these resources offered by our neighbors,” Energy and Industries Minister Gul Sherali remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on October 22.
“Therefore, we have not considered the possibility of importing electricity and natural gas from Russia during the winter months,” the minister said, commenting on an October 21 statement by Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ramazan Abdulatipov.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Rahmon on October 21, Russian diplomat noted that Russia would be indifferent electricity-supply problems facing Tajikistan in autumn-winter period. According to him, in case of need Russia could supply natural gas and electricity to Tajikistan during winter months.
In the meantime, Gul Sherali noted that Tajikistan now cooperated with Russia primarily in exploration and development of oil and gas fields in Tajikistan. “We recently applied to the Russian side asking to speed up exploration works,” the minister said.
As it had been reported earlier, intensification of work on exploration and development of gas and oil fields in Tajikistan was the focus of an October 21 meeting of President Rahmon with Ambassador Abdulatipov.
Besides, in a report released at a press conference in Dushanbe, Tajik Main Geology Directorate head Azim Ibrohim revealed on October 13 that Zarubezhneftegaz, subsidiary of Russian state-controlled gas company Gazprom, has not yet familiarized Tajik geologists with the results of the seismic survey.
After the first year of its operation in Tajikistan, the Russian company announced that it had completed seismic survey at the Sargazon field in Khatlon’s Danghara district. “Meanwhile, we have not yet received the report on the results of work carried out at the field,” Ibrohim said. According to him, two years ago, Gazprom was also granted license for exploration of oil and gas reserves of the Rengan field in the Roudaki district. “However, they have not yet started exploration work there,” Ibrohim said, adding that the Russian company has also received licenses for exploration of gas and oil reserves of the Shohambari and Sariqamish fields, which are also located in the Roudaki district.
We will recall that Russia”s state-controlled gas company Gazprom in December 2005 received two licenses from the Tajik government to explore oil and gas reserves. The Rengan field, located 20 kilometers from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, has possible gas reserves of 35 billion cubic meters, according to Gazprom; Sargazon, located in Khatlon province 150 kilometers from Dushanbe, has possible reserves of 30 billion cubic meters.
In March 2006, Tajik energy minister and the Gazprom head signed a memorandum in Dushanbe on the creation of an oil and gas joint venture. Under the deal, Gazprom develops four gas fields – Sariqamish, Rengan, Sargazon and Olimtoi in Tajikistan.
