According to Asia News Agency and other media reports, Ilkhom Oimuhamadzoda, Director General of Tajikistan’s Geological Survey Department, said at a press conference on July 7 that Tajikistan is actively exploring its domestic oil and gas resources to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. At present, the country’s major geological exploration activities are being carried out by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), with seismic exploration entering its final stage.

Oimuhamadzoda said that in recent years CNPC has completed extensive geophysical exploration work and submitted geological reports based on gravity and magnetic surveys. The seismic exploration project is now nearing completion, and CNPC experts are processing the collected seismic data. These results will identify the most promising geological structures for exploration, after which drilling locations will be determined.

He expects the seismic exploration report to be submitted by the end of this year, followed by the selection of drilling sites. Potential wells could reach depths of up to 7,000 meters. However, he emphasized that oil and gas reserves remain uncertain because the targets involve deep geological structures that cannot be accurately evaluated without drilling. Geologists are currently studying whether underground formations contain potential oil and gas accumulations, with actual reserves requiring verification through drilling.

Regarding efforts to reduce fuel import dependence, Oimuhamadzoda said the Geological Survey Department is working with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources to advance related initiatives. He noted that Tajikistan has two promising hydrocarbon basins—the Tajik Basin and the Fergana Basin—while some northern blocks have previously been considered for drilling depths exceeding 7,000 meters.

Regarding the previously promising Rangon gas field, Oimuhamadzoda said CNPC currently holds the license for the block and is conducting additional geological studies. Concerning the Sarikamysh block previously operated by Russia’s Gazprom, he said the company drilled an exploration well approximately 6,450 meters deep. Although multiple oil-bearing layers were discovered, the project was terminated because commercial-scale oil and gas reserves were not confirmed, and further geological studies were halted.

CNPC’s oil and gas cooperation with Tajikistan has a long history. From 2012 to 2013, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon visited CNPC headquarters in China twice and expressed hopes that the company could help Tajikistan overcome its energy challenges. The Bogda project was identified as one of CNPC’s largest overseas high-risk exploration blocks.

In November 2024, CNPC completed 1,200 kilometers of 2D seismic exploration in Khatlon Province and is currently conducting data processing and interpretation. The project uses advanced equipment and professional teams provided by China, creating more than 1,000 local jobs. With an investment of approximately US$60 million, the project plans to conduct 3D seismic exploration in potential areas to determine future drilling locations.

On June 12, 2025, the 2D seismic exploration project in the Bogda block officially began. The project has been described by industry insiders as the “Mount Everest of oil and gas exploration” due to its extremely challenging conditions. Located on the western edge of the Pamir Plateau, the exploration area has elevations exceeding 3,000 meters, slopes above 45 degrees, and elevation differences of several hundred meters in some areas. At depths of around 6,000 meters underground, thick anhydrite and salt rock formations further increase exploration difficulty.

It is worth noting that CNPC’s exploration activities in Tajikistan had been suspended for more than a decade before resuming in 2025. The completion of the seismic exploration phase marks a new critical stage for this long-delayed project.

Tajikistan currently relies almost entirely on imported refined petroleum products. In 2025, Russia controlled approximately 84% of Tajikistan’s fuel market, supplying more than 1.2 million tonnes of refined products and liquefied petroleum gas, with annual import spending exceeding US$959 million. This high dependence makes the country’s domestic energy market highly vulnerable to fluctuations in Russian energy supplies.

From a resource perspective, the Afghanistan-Tajik Basin and Fergana Basin, where Tajikistan is located, are important hydrocarbon basins in Central Asia. However, oil and gas exploration in the country remains at a very early stage, with complex deep geological structures. Previous attempts by several international energy companies failed to achieve commercial breakthroughs. Gazprom’s termination of the Sarikamysh project after drilling a 6,500-meter well highlighted the high exploration risks in the region.

CNPC’s planned 7,000-meter drilling campaign, if successful, could become a turning point for Tajikistan’s energy independence and represent a significant breakthrough for China’s deep oil and gas exploration efforts in Central Asia.