Tajikistan's Energy Future Brightens with Gas Discovery at Sarikamysh Field

The discovery of the Sarikamysh natural-gas field in Tajikistan, announced by Gazprom's head Aleksei Miller, has sent a wave of optimism through the Central Asian country's government and citizens. With an estimated 60 billion cubic meters of gas, the field has the potential to reverse Tajikistan's history of energy dependence on Uzbekistan and turn it into an energy exporter. The field's reserves, enough to supply the country for 50 years, will not only alleviate the country's energy shortages but also create new opportunities for economic growth and regional cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sarikamysh gas field, located 35 kilometers southwest of the capital Dushanbe, is estimated to have 60 billion cubic meters of gas, enough to supply the country for 50 years.
• Gazprom head Aleksei Miller estimates the field's reserves to be sufficient to supply the European Union's needs for about two months.
• The discovery of the Sarikamysh field will likely change Tajikistan's relations with Uzbekistan, which has traditionally used its gas supplies as a means of showing displeasure with the Tajik government's decisions.
• Tajikistan's completion of its hydropower projects, such as Sangtuda-1, Roghun, and Sangtuda-2, will further alleviate the country's energy shortages and make it an energy exporter.
• The country is expected to wean itself off Uzbek gas completely by late 2011, with the production of Gazprom's Sarikamysh field projected to reach 2 billion cubic meters per year.
• The future of Tajikistan's energy sector looks bright, with potential customers in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and even Kyrgyzstan.
• Emomali Aslov, the head of the Energy and Industry Ministry's gas and oil directorate, expressed cautious optimism about the Sarikamysh gas field, saying that it is "only a forecast at this point of time."
• Gazprom's Miller has a good track record of predicting gas field potential and has spent a significant amount of money on drilling a well that goes more than 6 kilometers deep.

Statistics:

• Estimated reserves at the Sarikamysh gas field: 60 billion cubic meters.
• Projected annual production from the Sarikamysh gas field: 2 billion cubic meters (enough to cover Tajikistan's annual consumption of around 1 billion cubic meters).
• Current annual consumption of gas in Tajikistan: around 1 billion cubic meters.
• Peak gas consumption in Uzbekistan: 216 million cubic meters (reduced from 2008 levels due to price increases).
• World prices for natural gas: increased by more than 50% in the last six years.
• Date of Gazprom's drilling commencement at the Sarikamysh gas field: December 7.
• Depth of the well drilled by Gazprom at the Sarikamysh gas field: over 6 kilometers.

Sources:

• "Tajikistan's Energy Future Brightens with Gas Discovery at Sarikamysh Field" by Asia Pulse.
• Quoted from RFE/RL's Tajik Service.
• Interview with Emomali Aslov, head of the Energy and Industry Ministry's gas and oil directorate, cited in the article.