DUSHANBE, February 9, Asia-Plus -- Tajik MPs have endorsed a bill on production partition agreements.

A sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) of the third convocation presided over by its chairman, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on February 9.  

We will recall that because of difference of opinions on the bill a February 7 sitting of Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament decided to adjourn the consideration of it until February 9.    

The law provides for concluding agreements between state and investors, both local and foreign, on partition of output when exploring, developing and processing any kind of natural resources in the territory of Tajikistan.  

Objections of MP Yusufjon Akhmedov against some formulations of the bill were not seconded and parliamentarians adopted the law by the majority of votes.  

 Speaking to journalists after the sitting, member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on International Matters, Public Associations and Information, Yusufjon Akhmedov said, “This law is undoubtedly needed for development of the country’s economy but not in the form it was adopted.”   

“Investors will scarcely agree to state’s taking a part of precious stones or metals because their reserves are known,” said Tajik MP, “Oil and natural gas are quite another matter because it is very difficult to estimate their total reserves and the law should have concerned only mineral resources such as oil and natural gas.” 

As an example he termed an agreement with Russia’s state-controlled gas company Gazprom on exploring oil and gas fields in Tajikistan.  “This agreement is very important for Tajikistan’s economy,” Akhmedov said.