The Gazprom Headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Gul Sherali, Industry and Energy Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The parties discussed the current status and prospects for cooperation between Gazprom and Tajikistan in the oil and gas sector. Special emphasis was placed on the implementation of the Agreement on the general principles of geological survey at oil and gas prospects in the Republic of Tajikistan.

The meeting participants confirmed their interest in further strengthening the mutually beneficial and long-standing partnership between Gazprom and Tajikistan.

Background:

Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and Gazprom is regulated by the long-term (till 2028) Agreement on Strategic Cooperation in the gas industry of May 15, 2003 and the Memorandum of Intent on setting up a joint venture between Russia and Tajikistan of March 28, 2006.

Since July 2006 Gazprom has been engaged in securing the launch of geological exploration activities in Tajikistan. The identification of commercially attractive hydrocarbon fields will permit to create a resource base for the joint venture’s business in the mid-term perspective.

On June 10, 2008 Gazprom and the Government of Tajikistan signed the Agreement on the general principles of geological survey at oil and gas prospects in the Republic of Tajikistan (Rengan, Sargazon, Sarykamysh, Zapadny Shaambary). Within the Agreement the following actions have been already stepped up:

- the Russian – Tajik Managing Committee has been formed;

- the feasibility study and stagewise geological survey program have been developed by Gazprom;

- the proposals on top-priority areas, volumes and geological survey phases as well as the substantiation of expenses are to be agreed on.