The Australian oil & gas producer Santos in cooperation with the Swiss DWM Petroleum entered with investments to Tajikistan in 2008 and carries out exploration in Sughd Region of the Republic of Tajikistan through CJSC “Somon-Oil”.
“Somon-Oil” has two licences for two promising oil & gas areas in the Sughd Region of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Santos LTD financed exploration in the Republic of Tajikistan through local vehicle CJSC “Somon-Oil”.
From 2008 to 2011, Somon completed a total of 1,200 linear kilometers of seismic survey for more than 12 million U.S. dollars. In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan about “Production Sharing Agreements” in the second half of 2010, CJSC “Somon-Oil” proposed to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Draft “Production Sharing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and CJSC” Somon-Oil ””.
It should be noted that during the reviewing of this Draft PSA, almost all of the responsible ministries and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan showed a very serious approach to all the articles and the requirements of the Agreement and as a result, this Agreement became a serious legal document for the long term outlook. Most of the relative ministries proposed to make considerable amendments to the text of the Draft PSA for the purpose of protection of interests of the Republic of Tajikistan that promoted and supported the revival and development of oil & gas sector in Tajikistan. Especially it is worth emphasizing the efforts of the responsible persons at the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Tajikistan, headed by Minister Gul Sherali, responsible persons in the Chief Directorate of Geology, headed by Azeem Ibrohim,at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan, then headed by Mr B. Khudoyorov.
From the very beginning of its activity in the Republic of Tajikistan, Santos LTD felt the immediate care and attention from the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon and the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. O. Oqylov.
In accordance with the orders and instructions of the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, we have been provided with all necessary conditions for carrying out seismic surveys during more than three years, when every day we felt the support and direct assistance from the local authorities in carrying out works in complex mining and climatic conditions.
The results of our work and ongoing support from the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan inspire us. In 2012 we plan to start drilling on the promising structures we discovered in Sughd Region. For this purpose we are budgeting for 2012 a total of $38million for exploration in Tajikistan.
A distinctive feature of our drilling is that for the drilling of one well of 4.500 meters we shall spend no more than 160 days. Currently we are planning for the purchase of equipment, materials and execution of works for this purpose.
