Uzbekistan is set to embark on two significant gas processing projects in collaboration with Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), as it was announced by Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister MIIT, during an interview with the “Menimcha” program on Uzbekistan 24 TV channel on May 19.
Kudratov elaborated on the scope of the projects, highlighting their technological and economic significance. “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), involving the 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.
The announcement follows the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Uzbekistan from May 17-19, at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This visit marked the first by a Malaysian leader to Uzbekistan in 16 years. In a joint statement, the heads of state welcomed Petronas’ potential involvement in training initiatives within the oil and gas sector.
In mid-2013, Petronas had 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. This project is now being managed by Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company. Additionally, Petronas exited the PSA for the development of the Urga, Kuanysh, and Akchalak group of fields in the Ustyurt region and closed its representative office in Uzbekistan in 2014.
The second project focuses on producing “green” ammonia, aligning with global trends towards sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural inputs. With growing demand for green fertilizers in markets such as the USA and Europe, this project positions Uzbekistan to capitalize on emerging economic opportunities while contributing to global sustainability goals.
