The MOU represents an agreed timetable up to 1 May 2012 to negotiate for two new PECs one for the Chegara Group of fields and one on the West Kruk field. The PECs are expected to be a similar contractual arrangement to the PEC that Tethys has over the North Urtabulak Field in Uzbekistan that has operated successfully for some 10 years. The Chegara and West Kruk fields are located in the same area as North Urtabulak. Under this contract Tethys is allocated refined products for the oil it produces and sells these on the export market in United States dollars. The Chegara Group of fields is less developed than North Urtabulak and Tethys believes that these fields give significant potential for additional oil production in the short term.
Mamuka Murjikneli, Regional Manager, commented, "This MOU is an excellent step forward with our partners Uzbekneftegaz to work on more oil fields in Uzbekistan. Given the experience and expertise Tethys has in Uzbekistan and the region this offers a real opportunity to add to Tethys' existing portfolio of high impact projects. These additional fields can be developed in conjunction with our currently producing North Urtabulak oil field increasing our short to medium term oil production base and cash flow in Uzbekistan."
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.