Gazprom will operate under a programme approved by the Uzbek government, the spokesperson said. Under the programme, Gazprom is also expected to estimate the hydrocarbon reserves of the Agyinsky, Aktumsuksky, Nasambeksky, and Shakhpakhtinsky blocks by the end of 2011.

In 2006, Gazprom signed an agreement with Uzbek state-owned oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz to develop seven investment blocks of the Ustyurt area with estimated gas reserves of about 1 trillion cubic meters.

In 2007-2008, Gazprom carried out the first stage of the geological exploration at the blocks. In March 2009, the company returned the licenses for three of the blocks, namely the Akchakalsky, Kuanyshsky, and Zapadno-Urginsky blocks, saying that they were not economically profitable.