Tajikistan plans to begin drilling a super-deep exploratory well in early 2027 as part of the Bokhtar oil and gas project with China's CNPC, with the planned well expected to reach a depth of up to 7,000 meters.
This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan.
The latest developments were discussed during a meeting of the Bokhtar Project Management Committee held in Hangzhou, China, from September 25 to 27. The Tajik delegation included Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Sharifa Khudobakhsh, representatives of the Executive Office of the President, and officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
The Bokhtar project is being implemented under a production-sharing agreement between the Tajik government and CNPC Central Asia B.V. The Chinese company is conducting geological and geophysical exploration aimed at identifying commercially viable oil and gas structures in southwestern Tajikistan.
The committee reviewed plans for further geophysical exploration in southern Tajikistan and the fulfillment of obligations under the production-sharing agreement.
According to the plan, the company is expected to determine the location of an exploratory well in 2026. Specialists are currently completing the processing of seismic survey data to identify the most promising drilling site.
"The planned exploratory well could reach a depth of up to 7,000 meters, with drilling expected to begin in early 2027," Tajik authorities said.
Tajik representatives also visited a CNPC Central Asia laboratory in Hangzhou, where samples collected from underground formations are analyzed to determine their chemical composition. The results are considered important for selecting the optimal location for the exploratory well.
Trend's analysis shows that the planned drilling represents a significant shift from preliminary geological exploration toward a stage where the commercial potential of the Bokhtar project can be tested directly. The 7,000-meter target depth also indicates that the project is focused on geological structures that require substantial investment and advanced drilling capabilities to evaluate.
Trend's calculations show that the planned well would be approximately 7 kilometers deep, making the project technically demanding and potentially increasing both the cost and risk associated with exploration. At the same time, successful drilling could provide significantly more reliable information on the size and quality of any hydrocarbon resources than surface and seismic surveys alone.
For Tajikistan, the project carries particular importance because the country remains dependent on imported fuel. A commercially viable domestic oil or gas discovery could eventually reduce import requirements, improve the country's energy trade balance and provide an additional source of fiscal and export revenues.
However, the planned drilling should not yet be interpreted as evidence that Tajikistan has confirmed commercially recoverable reserves. The geological data currently being processed can identify promising structures, but only exploratory drilling and subsequent testing can establish whether those structures contain hydrocarbons in economically viable quantities.
In Trend's assessment, the early 2027 drilling campaign will be a key test of the long-running Bokhtar project. If commercially viable reserves are confirmed, the project could become an important component of Tajikistan's efforts to strengthen domestic energy security and reduce exposure to imported fuel. Until drilling results are available, however, the project's economic impact remains contingent on the discovery and commercial development of recoverable resources.
The project is focused on discovering new oil and gas deposits, but Tajikistan has not yet confirmed commercially recoverable reserves at the depths under investigation. The actual resource potential of the area can only be assessed after exploratory drilling is completed. The Bokhtar project covers areas in southwestern Tajikistan, where geological and seismic exploration has been underway. Gravity and magnetic geophysical surveys have already been conducted, while seismic exploration at the company's licensed blocks began in 2025.
If commercially viable oil or gas reserves are discovered, domestic production could help Tajikistan reduce its dependence on imported fuel and strengthen its energy security.
