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

During the meeting the parties discussed the operational issues related to the present status and future prospects of Gazprom's projects in Tajikistan.

In particular, Sherali Gul asked Alexey Miller to speed up the drilling of Tajikistan's deepest prospecting well, Shakhrinav-1p, in the Sarykamysh licensed area. Drilling operations have been underway since late 2010. So far, over a half of the total well depth (6,300 meters) has been drilled.

In his turn, Alexey Miller appreciated the attention paid by Tajikistan's senior officials to the cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan in the fuel and energy sector as well as the future prospects for joint efforts in the gas sector. He also promised to render comprehensive assistance in implementing this project.

Background

Cooperation between Gazprom and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan hinges on the Agreement of 2008 on the principles for geological exploration of subsurface resources in Tajikistan's oil and gas prospects.

The Memorandum of Intent on setting up a joint venture between Russia and Tajikistan was inked in 2006. Gazprom and the Tajik Government entered into the Strategic Cooperation Agreement for 25 years in 2003.

Being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, Gazprom International acts as the operator of the project for hydrocarbons exploration and prospecting in Tajikistan as well as delivers all of the Company's upstream projects abroad.

Gazprom International performs geological exploration in 4 oil and gas prospects of Tajikistan: Sarykamysh, Sargazon, Rengan and Zapadny Shaambary. According to preliminary data, gas and oil resources in these areas are approximately estimated at 20 billion cubic meters and 17 million tons accordingly.

Pursuant to the Agreement of 2008, the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan was authorized to execute the project on the Tajik part.

Gazprom has made a decision to drill a 6,300 meter deep exploratory well in the Sarykamysh licensed area due to complex geological features of the subsurface formations. The well will become Tajikistan's deepest well and one of the deepest in Central Asia. At present, the well has been drilled down to 3,450 meters.