OREANDA-NEWS The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that plans to search for new oil fields remain, but there is no need to do this right now, stressing that "if there is oil, it will not go anywhere, it will be safer."

Kadyrov said in June 2022 that the Chechen authorities were planning to search for new oil and gas fields, as well as underground sources of drinking water and water for drinking and domestic water supply.

"In order to carry out large-scale geological exploration, the participation of investors is again necessary. But even with their availability and the most favorable economic conditions, this is not as fast a process as some imagine. We still have these plans, and we see them in the future. Perhaps we will search using the latest technologies that are more accessible. I don't see the need to hurriedly throw all our forces into this, the oil, if there is, will not go anywhere, it will be more intact," Kadyrov said, answering the agency's question about the situation with the search for new deposits.