Lukoil, Gazprom are among exploration investors in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, July 15 (Itar-Tass) -- Foreign companies involved in
exploration in Uzbekistan plan to invest over 1.9 billion dollars over
2010-2015, the head of Uzbekistan's institute of geology and exploration
of oil and gas deposits of the Uzbekneftegaz Company, Gaibulla Abdullayev,
said on Thursday.
Among the biggest investors there are Russia's Lukoil, Gazprom,
PetroAlliance and foreign CNPC International /China/, Korea National Oil
Corporation /South Korea/, and Petronas Carigali Overseas /Malaysia/, he
said.
The growth of hydrocarbons production by foreign companies in
Uzbekistan grew by 39 percent over the previous year. The production may
reach 50 percent by 2015, forecasts say.
Over 2006-2009 foreign investments from joint and foreign companies in
oil and gas exploration in Uzbekistan made 1.12 billion dollars.
Uzbekistan has specified 47 investment blocks, and foreign exploration
companies got licences for 26 of them.
Uzbekistan is ranked eleventh steadily in natural gas production.
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