20 May 2004 15:38
Uzbek, Russian gas giants reach deal on Uzbek gas extraction
Tashkent, 20 May: [Russian gas monopoly] Gazprom and the Uzbekneftegaz [Uzbek Oil and Gas national holding company]
have reached an agreement on gas extraction at the fields of the Ustyurt plateau in Uzbekistan.
Analysts think that the agreement is the main achievement of the Russian delegation's participation in an
international exhibition "Oil and gas - 2004" being held in the Uzbek capital today. They commented on a forum
being attended by representatives of 60 companies from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, China, the USA, Poland,
Croatia and other countries.
The exhibition's organizing committee told an ITAR-TASS correspondent that Russia was being represented by 21
companies including Gazprom, LUKoil Overseas [oil company], Soyuzneftegaz [Union of Oil and Gas Producers], Volgaburmash
and Zarubezhneftegaz.
Uzbekneftegaz said that the Ustyurt plateau where the company had agreed to extract gas jointly with Gazprom was
considered to be the most promising oil and gas bearing region in Uzbekistan. According to experts, the region's
reserves are estimated at over 4bn tonnes of fuel.
Uzbekneftegaz noted that Gazprom was planning to increase gas deliveries from Uzbekistan to Russia by 7.7bn cu. m.
this year. This figure was 2.5bn last year.
According to the head of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Producers, Yuriy Shafranik, who paid a working visit to
Uzbekistan recently, it is planned to increase gas deliveries by 10bn cu. m. a year.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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