DUSHANBE, October 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A draft agreement on cooperation between Tajikistan’s Main Geology Directorate (Tajik Geology) and the Geology Service of the Ministry of Lands and Resources of China for joint exploration of border areas was submitted for consideration to the relevant Tajik ministries and organizations in September this year, the Tajik Geology head Azim Ibrohim remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 6.

According to him, the Chinese side will finance the project.

“Besides, we have negotiated with senior representatives from the Geology Service of Finland here the issue of providing a grant for technical modernization and training of Tajik specialists under the project, The Single Database of Geological Information of Central Asia,” said Ibrohim, “This project will be sponsored by the Finnish MFA.”

The Tajik Geology head added that this year, Tajik government has granted seven licensing for exploration of Tajikistan’s mineral resources.  “The licenses have been granted to the limited liability companies Nourafzoi Shirin (for exploring coal reserves in the Muksou valley, GBAO’s Murgab district), Saymir (for exploring coal fields in the Fayzobod dsitrict), Synergy (for exploring marble deposits in GBAO’s Darvoz district), Pasi Gach (for exploring gypsum deposits in Khatlon’s Dangahra district), Avesta-2 (for exploring talc deposits in GBAO’s Ishkshim district) as well as the joint ventures TojAm (for exploring oil and gas fields Patari Janubi, Ravoti Shimoli-Patar, Tagay Kuchi and Khamirjui in Sughd’s Konibodom district) and Anzob.”