DUSHANBE
, March 29, Asia-Plus – On March 28, Jurabek Nurmahmadov, Tajik Ministry of Energy, and Aleksey Miller, Chairman of the Board of Russia’s “Gazprom” Joint-Stock Company, signed in
Dushanbe
a memorandum on the launch of an oil-and-gas joint venture in
Tajikistan
.
Under the deal, Gazprom will develop four gas fields – Sariqamish and Rengan in the west, and Sargazon and Olimtoi in the south. Proven gas resources in Sarikamysh and Rengan total 40 billion cubic meters and Sargazon 30 billion, while the Olimtoi deposit has yet to be prospected.
The Gazprom chief executive, who has been on a two-day visit to
Dushanbe
, notes that the statutory documents would be signed soon.
Aleksey Miller yesterday also met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov to discuss cooperation in the oil and gas and energy spheres.
Miller told journalists following his meeting with President Rahmonov that his visit was a kind of transition stage from preparatory work to practical implementation of joint plans. According to him, their talks focused on possible directions of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. He said priorities on natural gas deposits in
Tajikistan
, where Gazprom would be involved in prospecting and which would provide for the country”s gas needs at the local level had been set.
The Gazprom chief executive also stressed a significance of gas-transmission network, oil refining and electric power engineering. “Gazprom received for consideration a number of electric power engineering projects, which we will study during a half-year and we will make decision on participation in the projects based on the results of feasibility study,” Miller said.
On the launch of the oil-and-gas joint venture in
Tajikistan
, Miller said it would work in accordance with
Tajikistan
’s legislation.
“Initially, we are allocating $6 million from our budget to the joint venture,” he said. On the parties’ shares in the venture”s authorized capital, Miller said that there was a principled agreement that Gazprom would hold the JV”s controlling stake.
Besides, a representative office of Gazprom will open in
Dushanbe
within the next few days, according to him.
Commenting on the possible gas resources in
Tajikistan
, Miller said they would prospect for natural gas in
Tajikistan
hoping that large gas resources would be discovered in the republic. “However, being based on geological information one may say with confidence that in future Tajikistan will be able to resolve its domestic gas problems due to gas extracted on the republic’s territory,” Gazprom head stressed. Miller also expressed confidence that the launch of the oil-and-gas joint venture would allow
Tajikistan
not only resolve its domestic gas problems but also to export gas.
On relations of Gazprom with
Uzbekistan
, Miller noted, “We are working with partners in order to provide mutually beneficial cooperation with each of them and not to hurt the third countries.”
