Tashkent, 19 August 2022 — The MTO gas-chemical complex announces the signing of contract with the multinational, EPC engineering company Wood Plc (“Wood”) to support the project with detailed engineering and procurement assistance services.
The agreement includes detailed design of processing units for methanol, methanol-to-olefin, mono-ethylene glycol, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene. Wood will also devise a strategy for integrating a digital control system covering the entire facility.
This digital system implements control and manageability of technological processes, and ensures safe modes of equipment operation in emergency situations.
Wood cooperates in several project stages with Enter Engineering, Central Asia’s largest EPC provider, and the main contractor for the $2.5 billion facility located in the Bukhara region.
Masrur Shakirov, Project Director for the MTO complex, commented:
“We are proud to deepen the cooperation with our valued partner Wood. The MTO gas-chemical complex is a pioneering project — the first implementation of MTO technology in Central Asia. Combining Enter Engineering’s vast experience in delivering large-scale industrial projects with the petrochemical, mining and engineering expertise of Wood will ensure our facility will set the new standards for Uzbekistan’s industrial development.”
Guiseppe Zuccaro, President of Process & Chemicals of Wood, added:
“Our extensive experience in petrochemical projects of scale and our proven ability to operate a global execution model continue to position us as the ideal technical partner. We’re delighted to build on our strong relationship with Enter Engineering on the MTO Gas Chemical Complex and look forward to working closely to achieve the full value of the investment in this world-class project.”
Earlier this year, Decree No. 357 issued by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan authorized the creation of Free Economic Zone ‘Karakul’ to foster the growth of Uzbekistan’s high-tech industry and petrochemical production capacity.
The MTO gas-chemical complex forms the core of this international industrial cluster, expected to process 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year (incl. FEZ needs).
The 300 kilo-tonnes of PET to be produced annually will be directed at satisfying domestic demand, boosting Uzbekistan’s textile industry — with offtake-agreements already in place with leading manufacturers SAG and Urgaz. Simultaneously, the complex will significantly accelerate import substitution in Uzbekistan, ensuring diversification and development of various sectors of the economy.
Renowned international companies have entered into technology licensing agreements to support the MTO complex, including Haldor Topsoe A/S (Denmark), Koch Industries Inc. (USA), Chemtex Global Corp. (USA), Scientific Design (USA), Versalis (Italy), Sinopec (China) и Grace Catalysts Technologies (USA).