Uzbekistan plans to implement two large gas processing projects together with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) from Malaysia. The Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov said this in an interview with the “Menimcha” program of the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
“We agreed with the largest oil and chemical company Petronas to implement two large projects. The first is based on MTO technology (methanol to olefins and its derivatives), deep processing of our gas and the production of polymers from gas. The second is the production of “green” ammonia from gas. The demand for “green” fertilizers is growing in the USA and European countries, so this is a very important project for our economy in terms of exports,” he said.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim visited the country on an official visit on May 17-19 at the invitation of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This was the first visit of a Malaysian leader to Uzbekistan in the last 16 years.
In a joint statement, the heads of state welcomed Petronas’ potential involvement in training in the oil and gas sector.
In mid-2013, the Malaysian company notified Uzbekistan of its decision to withdraw from the production sharing agreement (PSA) for the exploration and development of fields in the Boysun investment block in the Surkhandarya region (the project is now being implemented by Surkhan Gas Chemical Operating Company) and the PSA for the development of the Urga, Kuanysh and Akchalak group of the Ustyurt region. In 2014, the company closed its representative office in Uzbekistan.
In 2009, the company entered into a project to build a plant for the production of synthetic fuel (Uzbekistan GTL), but in June 2011 it reduced its share in the joint venture from 33.3% to 11%, and then, together with other investors, withdrew from the project due to economic inexpediency.
