Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE582
2006-03-31 13:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
GAZPROM SLOWLY STEPS INTO TAJIKISTAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ENRG TI
SUBJECT: GAZPROM SLOWLY STEPS INTO TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 44
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ENRG TI
SUBJECT: GAZPROM SLOWLY STEPS INTO TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 44
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) After three years, and three days of intensive meetings,
Gazprom signed an agreement March 28 with the Government of
Tajikistan to create a joint venture to explore Tajikistan's
southern gas and oil reserves. Deputy Minister of Energy Aslov
told PolOffs the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a
representative office and launching feasibility studies of
Tajikistan's estimated total 125 billion cubic meters natural
gas reserves at four separate sites was the realization of a May
2003 agreement to take such steps. Gazprom head Alexey Miller's
Dushanbe visit was widely publicized as another important step
cementing Russia's and Tajikistan's energy ties, although any
gas produced would be for domestic consumption.
2. (C) Aslov confirmed press reports that Gazprom intended to
develop medium-sized hydropower stations along the Zarafshan
River in northwestern Tajikistan. Gazprom will conduct a
feasibility study this summer at three potential sites:
Fondariy, Oburdon and Yvan. Asked if Gazprom had experience in
hydropower, Aslov clucked, "They employ over 300,000 workers and
just built a sports complex in Russia," he said, suggesting a
hydropower station was just another large structure. Aslov
stressed that this would be a much needed "green-field"
investment and Gazprom's motivation was purely financial.
3. (C) Aslov made another pitch for U.S. investment in the oil
and gas sectors (reftel). Referring to his trip to the Unites
State Geological Survey headquarters in Colorado in Summer 2005,
he noted that American technology and equipment was far superior
to that of Russia and other countries, and would be perfect to
help exploit Tajikistan's deep reserves. His deputy, Oil, Gas
and Coal Department Head (and SABIT exchange alumnus) Kurbonkhol
Bobokholonov noted that "eight years ago" he read about "a drill
that could go 10 km horizontally. Surely it could drill 6 km
vertically!" Aslov commented he was looking for a response from
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency about possible technical
assistance for the exploring the gas fields. He reported that
unlike in hydropower, the Chinese had expressed no interest in
oil or gas projects.
4. (C) COMMENT: As Deputy Minister for Oil, Gas, and Coal
Aslov's portfolio has lately not been as high-profile as that of
his hydropower colleagues. Tajikistan's gas reserves are small
and deep, and likely not yet of interest to most foreign
investors. The agreement with Gazprom shows Russia is
interested in maintaining its dominance of Tajikistan's energy
sector. Its true commitment will be demonstrated by how quickly
Gazprom selects a head for its representative office and when
exploratory work begins. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ENRG TI
SUBJECT: GAZPROM SLOWLY STEPS INTO TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 44
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) After three years, and three days of intensive meetings,
Gazprom signed an agreement March 28 with the Government of
Tajikistan to create a joint venture to explore Tajikistan's
southern gas and oil reserves. Deputy Minister of Energy Aslov
told PolOffs the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a
representative office and launching feasibility studies of
Tajikistan's estimated total 125 billion cubic meters natural
gas reserves at four separate sites was the realization of a May
2003 agreement to take such steps. Gazprom head Alexey Miller's
Dushanbe visit was widely publicized as another important step
cementing Russia's and Tajikistan's energy ties, although any
gas produced would be for domestic consumption.
2. (C) Aslov confirmed press reports that Gazprom intended to
develop medium-sized hydropower stations along the Zarafshan
River in northwestern Tajikistan. Gazprom will conduct a
feasibility study this summer at three potential sites:
Fondariy, Oburdon and Yvan. Asked if Gazprom had experience in
hydropower, Aslov clucked, "They employ over 300,000 workers and
just built a sports complex in Russia," he said, suggesting a
hydropower station was just another large structure. Aslov
stressed that this would be a much needed "green-field"
investment and Gazprom's motivation was purely financial.
3. (C) Aslov made another pitch for U.S. investment in the oil
and gas sectors (reftel). Referring to his trip to the Unites
State Geological Survey headquarters in Colorado in Summer 2005,
he noted that American technology and equipment was far superior
to that of Russia and other countries, and would be perfect to
help exploit Tajikistan's deep reserves. His deputy, Oil, Gas
and Coal Department Head (and SABIT exchange alumnus) Kurbonkhol
Bobokholonov noted that "eight years ago" he read about "a drill
that could go 10 km horizontally. Surely it could drill 6 km
vertically!" Aslov commented he was looking for a response from
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency about possible technical
assistance for the exploring the gas fields. He reported that
unlike in hydropower, the Chinese had expressed no interest in
oil or gas projects.
4. (C) COMMENT: As Deputy Minister for Oil, Gas, and Coal
Aslov's portfolio has lately not been as high-profile as that of
his hydropower colleagues. Tajikistan's gas reserves are small
and deep, and likely not yet of interest to most foreign
investors. The agreement with Gazprom shows Russia is
interested in maintaining its dominance of Tajikistan's energy
sector. Its true commitment will be demonstrated by how quickly
Gazprom selects a head for its representative office and when
exploratory work begins. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND