Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 22 September 2023, the XXVI session of the Intergovernmental Council on Exploration, Use and Protection of Subsoil was held in Samarkand (Republic of Uzbekistan). 

The session was attended by members of the Intergovernmental Council and representatives from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and a representative of the CIS Executive Committee. This was reported by the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Council, Head of the Main Department of Geology under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Oymukhammadzoda Ilkhomjon Sulton.

A representative of the CIS Executive Committee also delivered a welcoming speech.

In accordance with the Regulations on the Intergovernmental Council, the functions of the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Council were transferred to the Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bobir Farkhadovich Islamov.

The thematic part of the session was devoted to the discussion of a number of topical issues aimed at developing cooperation between the CIS member states in the field of geology and subsoil use. Members of the Council provided detailed information on the results of the work of the geological services of the CIS member states for the period from October 2022 to September 2023 on the implementation of the decisions of the XXV session of the Intergovernmental Council, on the progress of the implementation of the Perspective Plan for joint work of the CIS member states on exploration for 2023–2030.

During the meeting, reports were heard on the progress of digitalization of the geological industry, on the inventory of the regulatory framework of the CIS member states in the field of exploration, use and protection of subsoil, on multi-scale geochemical mapping of the border territories of Russia, as the basis for cross-border cooperation of the member countries of the Intergovernmental Council, on increasing the effectiveness of the geological study of the Caspian region on the basis of an updated cartographic basis, about current issues of oil and gas geology and the search for ways to solve them, about the children’s and youth geological movement as a factor in the formation of human resources in the geological industry of the CIS member states, etc.

As a result of the session, the Regulations on the Working Group of Member States of the Intergovernmental Council on Exploration, Use and Protection of Subsoil on current areas of development of geology and subsoil use, Model requirements for experts in the field of assessment of reserves, resources and development of minerals and competent persons were approved.

Members of the Intergovernmental Council approved the draft Regulations on the basic organization of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States for the exploration, use and protection of subsoil and the draft Program for the Development of Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the field of study, use and protection of groundwater for the period until 2030 and the Action Plan for its implementation. The adoption of this Program will contribute to the creation of a hydrogeological basis for the balanced interstate use of the resource potential of cross-border groundwater of the CIS member states. These draft documents will be sent to the CIS Executive Committee for further consideration by the highest bodies of the CIS in the prescribed manner.

The XXVII session of the Intergovernmental Council on Exploration, Use and Protection of Subsoil is scheduled to be held in 2024 in the Kyrgyz Republic.