KHUJAND, September 15, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The first phase of geological surveys for the Dushanbe-based joint venture, closed joint-stock company (OJSC) Somon Oil (phonetically spelled), has been completed in the northern Sughd province.  

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, director of the branch of Russia’s Saratovneftegeofizika in Tajikistan, Zevri Kurtbedinov (phonetically spelled), said, “We completed the first phase of geological surveys for the JV Somon Oil on September 12 and sent the collected materials for processing to Saratov, Russia.  If suppositions about existence of oil and natural gas are confirmed, the detailed exploration of fields will start.”   

He added that in the near future, their specialists will continue exploration of oil and gas fields in the Danghara district, Khatlon province.  

We will recall that Russia''s state-controlled gas company Gazprom has received two licenses from the Tajik government to explore oil and gas reserves.  The Rengan field, located 20 kilometers from Dushanbe, has possible gas reserves of 35 billion cubic meters and the Sargazon field, located in the Danghara district,  some 150 kilometers from Dushanbe, has possible reserves of 30 billion cubic meters