Tashkent to court Japan energy firms
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Uzbekistan has invited Japanese companies to participate in four investment projects in the country to explore and develop oil and gas fields and to refine crude.
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The projects would total $356 million, Shavkat Mazhitov, Uzbekneftegaz's First Deputy CEO, said at an Uzbek-Japanese business forum in Tashkent on Thursday.
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He said the company wants to conduct geological exploration at the Shumanay and Ashibulak blocks in the Ustyurt region in the west of the country for approximately $100 million.
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Uzbekistan is also looking to invite Japanese firms to help produce a synthetic liquid fuel from natural gas in a project worth over $200 million. There are other smaller projects as well.
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Mazhitov said Uzbekistan is increasing cooperation with Japan as one of its main investment partners since the two sides have been strategic partners for 14 years.
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During these years, the Japanese government provided Uzbekistan with $1.214 billion in soft credits, grants and technical aid.
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