"This day can be considered as a starting point for the commencement of Gazprom's concrete work in Kyrgyzstan. We want to grant a license to prospect two deposits in the south of Kyrgyzstan," Igor Chudinov said at a licensing ceremony attended by Alexei Miller, chairman of the Gazprom management committee.
In turn, Miller said Gazprom intended to invest about $300 million in Kyrgyzstan and expressed hope that the survey results would be positive.
"It is important for Kyrgyzstan to possess its own mineral base to exclude dependence on its neighbors," Miller said.
According to preliminary data, about 300 million cubic meters of gas are expected to be produced in Kyrgyzstan annually.
Kyrgyzstan has also offered Gazprom to participate in the planned privatization of the republic's oil and gas industry, Chudinov said.
