DUSHANBE, April 14, 2014, Asia-Plus -- A meeting with participation of senior representatives of companies having licenses for carrying out exploration operation in Tajikistan took place at the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan (Glavgeologiya) in Dushanbe at the end of last week.

Presided over by Glavgeologiya head Murod Khol, the meeting reportedly reviewed the results of work carried out by the companies in 20013 and their plans for this year.

Gazprom International, Tethys Petroleum Limited (Tethys), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Total S.A. (Total) as well as gold mining companies reported on the results of the past year’s work, an official source at Glavgeologiya told Asia-Plus in an interview.

We will recall that Tethys Petroleum Limited (Tethys), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Total S.A. (Total) have shares in the Bokhtar Production Sharing Contract (PSC).

Gazprom International is an affiliate of Russia’s state-controlled company Gazprom.  Gazprom now has licenses to explore two oil-and-gas reserves in Tajikistan: Sariqamish and the Western Shohambari.  In September last year, Gazprom’s licenses for exploration of Sariqamish and Western Shohambari fields were extended for five years.

Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company (GGC); and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka.