Page 17 - FSUOGM Week 43

FSUOGM PROJECTS & COMPANIES FSUOGM

Uzbek GTL project reaches

91% completion

UZBEKISTAN UZBEKISTAN’S $3.6bn gas-to-liquids (GTL) ended after Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov,
project has reached 91% completion, the coun- Kashkardarya regional governor Zoiyr Mirzayev
The ministry confirmed try’s energy ministry reported on October 24, and other top government were sent to the con-
the plant was still with some 12,000 workers now back on site after struction site to try to quell tensions.
on track for a 2021 coronavirus (COVID-19) disruptions over the Uzbekistan’s economy has suffered a sharp
launch. summer. downturn as a result of the COVID-19 crisis,
Some 9,000 workers were evacuated from and companies have complained about delays in
the site in July after an outbreak of COVID- payments from Uzbekneftegaz (UNG) and other
19. The ministry’s latest progress report comes state-owned enterprises. UNG is the operator of
after thousands over workers employed by the GTL plant.
Enter Engineering, a key contractor at the The project is among several flagship invest-
project, began a riot earlier this month over ments in Uzbekistan aimed at converting the
unpaid wages, lengthy shifts and problems country’s gas into higher-value products. The
with the serving of meals, according to local ministry reiterated that the plant was scheduled
media reports. Those workers have now been for completion in 2020, with production due to
paid and authorities have agreed to shorten start in 2021. At full capacity, the plant will be
their shifts. capable of processing 3.6bn cubic metres per
Some workers told RFE/RL that the Uzbek year of gas into 1.5mn tonnes per year (tpy) of
National Guard, security troops and the police kerosene, diesel, naphtha and LPG. The products
were brought in to break up the riot. The unrest will all be consumed by local industry. ™

Week 43 28•October•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P17