Uzbekistan plans to implement two major gas processing projects jointly with a Malaysian company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), as announced by minister of investment, industry and trade Laziz Kudratov in an interview on the Menimcha program of Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
“We have agreed with Petronas, the largest company in the field of oil and chemistry, to implement two major projects. The first is based on the MTO (methanol-to-olefins and its derivatives) technology for deep processing of our gas and production of polymers from gas. The second is the production of green ammonia from gas. The demand for green fertilizers is growing in the United States and European countries, so this is a very important project for our economy in terms of exports,” he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to Uzbekistan on 17−19 May at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This was the first visit of the Malaysian leader to Uzbekistan in the past 16 years.
In a joint statement, the heads of state welcomed Petronas' potential involvement in training within 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 Surkhandaryo region. The project is now being implemented by Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company. Petronas also withdrew from the PSA for the development of the Urga, Kuanysh, and Akchalak group of fields in the Ustyurt region. In 2014, the company closed its representative office in Uzbekistan.
In 2009, the company entered the project for construction of a synthetic fuel plant (Uzbekistan GTL). However, in June 201, it reduced its stake in the joint venture from 33.3% to 11%, and subsequently, together with other investors, withdrew from the project due to economic infeasibility.
