CNPC Specialists Have Begun Geological Exploration Work in the Southwest of Tajikistan
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has begun implementing a project for the exploration and production of new hydrocarbon deposits in southwest Tajikistan. This was announced by CNPC General Director B. Deji.
On April 11, 2024, the launch ceremony of the project for the development of new fields in southwestern Tajikistan (Bokhtar project) took place in the city of Sarband.
Theses by B. Deji:
- the corporation, together with other companies and relevant government agencies of Tajikistan, have been carrying out certain work for many years;
- despite many difficulties, we were able to take the Bokhtar project to a new stage of development;
- for the further development of the economy of Tajikistan, oil and gas are needed.
Theses of the Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Sh. Khudobakhsh:
- CNPC is ready to assist Tajikistan in achieving self-sufficiency in hydrocarbons and make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country;
- we have all been waiting for this for a long time and in the near future major work in the oil and gas industry will begin in our country;
- the need to achieve the goal in the oil and gas bearing area allocated to the corporation.
Initially, geological exploration work (GEW) is carried out on an area of 15.3 km2.
The geological exploration will involve:
- 25 Chinese technical specialists;
- 190 citizens of Tajikistan;
- almost 10 units of high-precision technologies.
At the end of March 2024, parliamentarians of Tajikistan ratified the transfer to CNPC of a stake in the Bokhtar project, which previously belonged to the French TotalEnergies. This document involves TotalEnergies ceding its share of participation in the Bokhtar project in favor of CNPC.
Bokhtar project
The project is part of the Afghan-Tajik depression, which, according to some sources, has large deposits of oil and gas, of which 40% are located in Tajikistan. The first part of the project covers the southwestern part of the Tajikistan depression up to the junction of the borders of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The project began in Sarband, located 110 km south of Dushanbe.
The government of Tajikistan entered into an initial agreement with the Canadian company Tethys Petroleum on June 13, 2008.
At the end of 2011, Tethys Petroleum announced the discovery of oil and gas reserves at the Bishtinchak field.
Company specialists estimated these resources without taking into account the risk factor at 27.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent:
- 69% of which is gas;
- 31% – oil and gas condensate.
Such large global companies as TotalEnergies and CNPC began to show interest in Tajik hydrocarbon reserves.
In July 2013, Tethys Petroleum, TotalEnergies and CNPC signed an agreement to provide a participation interest. As a result, each party acquired a 1/3 share in the Bokhtar project. In accordance with the agreement, the government of Tajikistan is not a partner in the development and production and does not invest in this work. However, if oil and gas fields are discovered and produced, it can take 30% for itself.
In September 2015, CNPC and TotalEnergies demanded that Tethys Petroleum withdraw from this project. This ultimatum in relation to Tethys Petroleum was delivered due to the company’s failure to fulfill its obligations and debt under the project.
The quarrel reached the court, and in 2017 the International Arbitration Court recognized the claims of TotalEnergies and CNPC as justified.
