DUSHANBE, January 31, Asia-Plus – Activity of Russian companies in Tajikistan is frequently impeded by some local officials themselves, Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ramazan Abdulatipov remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 30.
According to him, some Tajik officials are sometimes delaying decisions on granting licenses. “Russian gas company Gazprom was recently faced with such problems when it applied for licenses to explore gas reserves in Tajikistan,” Abdulatipov said.
Russian diplomat noted that during a meeting with Gazprom head Aleksey Miller, President Rahmonov had asked to speed up the geological prospecting of natural gas and oil fields in Tajikistan.
“The company opens its representative office here; however, it has to spent several months to receive the licenses,” said the ambassador, “The president gives one order while officials work in absolutely other way.”
Abdulatipov also noted Gazprom had to date received two licenses and the Tajik government has promised to grant two other licenses.
