Gazprom to resume geological prospecting in Kyrgyzstan.

BISHKEK (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Gazprom will resume
geological prospecting in the territory of Kyrgyzstan according to the
agreements reached over the 12th meeting of the Kyrgyzstan-Russia
intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and
humanitarian cooperation, which was organised on Thursday.
"Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Energy
jointly with Gazprom will resume the geological prospecting in the
country," a source in Kyrgyzstan's government said.
The exploration of possible deposits will be done on the basis of
earlier bilateral agreements. The works may be resumed within a month's
time.
The agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Russia was signed four years
earlier, but complex bilateral relations between 2008 and 2010 suspended
the implementation of the project. Gazprom will resume the works
exclusively at the sites stated in the agreement.
Kyrgyzstan was represented by its First Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek
Babanov, Russia - by - by Head of the Federal Customs Service Andrei
Belyaninov. Over the meeting, the sides agreed to resume cooperation
between the two countries in energy, including participation of Russia's
specialists in the design and construction of Kyrgyzstan's several
hydroelectric power plants on the Naryn River. Besides, Russia may
participate in privatization of Kyrgyzgas' state-owned packet of shares.