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 told Uzbekistan 24 channel.
“We agreed with one of the global oil and chemical giant - Petronas to implement two major projects. The first is a MTO (methanol to olefins and its derivatives) project, the second is a gas to “green” ammonia production unit project. 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.
In mid-2013, the Petroliam Nasional Bhd notified Uzbekistan of its decision to withdraw from the production sharing agreement (PSA) for the exploration and development of fields in the Baysun investment block in the Surkhandarya region (the project is now being implemented by Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company) and the PSA for the development of the Urga, Kuanysh and Akchalak group of the Ustyurt area. 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.
