LUKoil to commission Uzbek's Qandim

UPI May 18 LUKoil of Russia has announced it plans to commission Uzbekistan's Qandim deposit by the end of the year, ITAR-TASS reported. Speaking at a Tashkent news conference Wednesday, LUKoil head Vagit Alekperov spoke of the company's involvement in the Uzbek energy sector, which will be further deepened with the commissioning of the 3 billion cubic meter natural gas deposit. "Our company has invested over 160 million dollars in the Uzbek energy sector over the past two and half years," Alekperov said. Asked whether LUKoil would involve local firms in the work ahead, he replied that the company's plans account for 60 percent of field infrastructure work being completed by Uzbek companies. "However, they have to improve their ability to meet high world standards," he said. LUKoil views Uzbekistan as a strategic partner, Alekperov concluded. "We are able to invest up to $1.5 billion in the country's energy sector and extract 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year," he said.