DUSHANBE, December 15, Asia-Plus -- Tajik-British Joint Venture, Limited Liability Company Nur-Silk Road, plans to develop and process natural-gas and oil fields in southern Tajikistan, Abdurashid Shomahmadov, head of the oil-and-gas sector department of the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI), said.     

According to him, the company is going to develop and process the oil-and-gas deposit Qashqoqum in the Shahritus district of Khatlon.  Shomahmadov added that the company has also a number of refuel stations in Konibodom.  

The MoEI official said that the oil reserve of the Qashqoqum deposit had been estimated at 4.9 million tons.  “To process the deposit Nur-Silk Road will enlist the services of the companies dealing with extraction of oil in Tajikistan, acting as investor,” Shomahmadov said.  

“The company is currently preparing all necessary documents to get a license for developing and processing the Qashqoqum deposit, and they may possibly get it in the beginning of the next year,” Shomahmadov said, noting that the ministry seconds the company’s plan to develop the deposit. 

Nur-Silk Road was established as a multi-profile company.  It works in the field of oil products supply, farm produce processing and textile production in northern Tajikistan.