The Republic of Uzbekistan has broken ground on a 5 million-tonne/year grassroots refinery to be built in the former Soviet state’s eastern Jizzakh region.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated start of construction on the $2.2-billion project in an Apr. 27 ceremony, according to separate releases from Mirziyoyev’s office and state-run National Holding Co. Uzbekneftegaz.
Designed in collaboration with a consortium of leading international companies and to be equipped with most advanced technologies for deep processing of crude oil as well as ensuring industrial and ecological safety, the modern refining complex comes as part of Uzbekistan’s 2017-21 Action Strategy development plan, the goals of which include achieving national fuel-energy independence as well as increasing the country’s export potential, Mirziyoyev’s office said.
The refinery will process crude feedstock delivered via pipeline from Russia and Kazakhstan to produce 3.7 million tpy of motor fuel, 700,000 tpy of aviation fuel, and 300,000 tpy of other finished petroleum products.
Supplies of Russian and Kazakhstani crude feedstock for the refinery follow cooperative framework agreements in the oil and gas sector Uzbekistan recently entered with the two countries, according to a series of March-May 2017 releases from Mirziyoyev’s office.
As part of those agreements, Kazakhstan’s state-owned JSC National Co. KazMunaiGas (KMG) will provide technical support to Uzbekneftegaz on modernization projects at subsidiary Uzneftmahsulot AK's existing refineries, as well as review an opportunity to render technical assistance in building the new refinery, KMG said in a Mar. 23 release.
A definitive timeframe for startup of the proposed Jizzakh has yet to be revealed.
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].