Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 8
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
Products of the largest technological cluster in the region being created in Uzbekistan, on the basis of a new gas chemical complex (GCC), will be sent for further processing to organize production of goods with higher added value, Uzbek oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz told Trend on Oct. 8.
The company noted that the goods produced will be aimed both at meeting the needs of the local market and for export abroad.
“It is planned to establish production of such finished products as polypropylene containers and packaging products, polypropylene film products, composite products made of polypropylene, rubber products, packaging products made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), synthetic yarns for blended fabrics, synthetic non-woven materials, household and industrial chemicals” Uzbekneftegaz said.
According to the representative of the company, within the framework of the cluster being created, a number of projects are planned to be implemented on deep processing of natural gas in the prospective oil and gas areas of Uzbekistan, as well as other projects.
“Unified facilities of the general production will be created on the territory of the cluster, including plants for air separation, preparation of steam and water, generation of electricity, general treatment facilities, as well as a centralized goods park for storage and further transportation of products,” the oil and gas company noted.
Uzbekneftegaz also said that the development of the project is carried out jointly with the US-based Boston Consulting Group, without, however, providing details of the deal due to the confidentiality agreement signed by the parties on July 30, 2018.
Uzbekneftegaz will build a GCC capable of processing 1.3-1.5 billion cubic meters of gas based on the technology of MTO (methanol in olefins) and producing 200,000-250,000 tons of polypropylene, 100,000 tons of ethylene-propylene rubber, 100,000 tons of polyethylene terephthalate and ethylene vinyl acetate, 100,000-150,000 tons of ethylene glycol and polyethylene.
The company is also planning to build over 10 plants on the basis of public-private partnership for processing polymers with production capacity of up to 300,000 tons of finished products.
The total cost of the project will be approximately $4.25 billion, $3.5 billion of which will be allocated on construction of the GCC. Uzbekistan is ready to invest 30 percent of its own funds in the project, and 70 percent will be foreign investments and loans.
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