Gazprom to Cooperate With Tashkent

Uzbek National Holding Company "Uzbekneftegaz" and Russian Open Joint Stock Company "Gazprom" will cooperate each other in the field of extraction,transportation and sale of natural gas. This was finally decided yesterday in a meeting when Uzbek president Islam Karimov received Gazprom chairman Mr. Aleksey Miller at his residence in Tashkent.

Gazprom and Uzbekneftegaz signed two contracts which determine cooperation in the field of gas for the next ten years and to increase the volume of export.

Speaking about the chairman's visit, president Karimov pointed out that Uzbekistan is seeing Gazprom as a key partner. Uzbekistan has many opportunities which are to be used in full and our country will welcome if they are used for mutual benefit, added Karimov. Gazprom chairman Aleksey Miller told that the newly signed document determined our cooperation with Uzbekistan in the field of gas and our organization is planning to increase two times volumes of purchase within three years. It may be mentioned here that few days before, during the parliament session president Karimov told the press that the level of relations between Uzbekistan and Russia was estimated as positive and there were no insoluble problems. As per the sources to the denationalization and privatization program "Uzbekneftegaz", seven joint stock companies affiliated will be privatized on case-by-case projects basis with participation of foreign investors. Shares of 23 enterprises of "Uzbekneftegaz" are already offered to foreign investors on stock exchange and over the counter market.

Aloke Shekhar Tashkent Especially for PRAVDA.Ru