Russ Oil-Gas

20 February 2008 - Upstream OnLine - Kyrgyzstan has handed Gazprom exploration licences for two oil and natural gas fields and invited the Russian gas giant to buy stakes in two state-owned energy outfits. Gazprom said it would invest up to $300 million to develop the Central Asian nation's fields within the next four years. "We were given exploration licences today," Gazprom boss Alexei Miller told Reuters after meeting Kyrgyz Prime Miniester Igor Chudinov in the capital Bishkek. "During the second stage Gazprom will invest about $300 million into Kyrgyzstan." Chudinov said the government had also invited Gazprom to take part in the planned privatisation of two state-owned oil and gas companies - Kyrgyzgaz and Kyrgyzneftegaz.