On November 16, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the Surkhandara region. His first destination was the mausoleum of the great theologian Hakim at-Termizi. Ayats from the Koran and duas were recited, asking the Almighty to send peace and prosperity to our people. During the meeting with religious figures, it was noted with regret that there are still conflicts and wars in the world today, where the blood of innocent people is being shed. This encourages us to appreciate even more the value of the peace and tranquillity that reign in our country, to live with a sense of gratitude. The emphasis was placed on the importance of educating young people on the meaning of peace and the legacy of science and education left by ancestors such as Termizi. A scientific conference on these issues was proposed to be held in Termez.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has inspected the construction of the 25 years of independence gas-chemical complex in the Baisun district of the Surkhandarya region.

The gas field was discovered here several decades ago. However, the complicated geography, lack of modern technology and resources meant the field could not be developed.

Thanks to Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s determination, practical steps have been taken in this direction. The head of state came here in April 2019 and familiarised himself with the preliminary geological exploration work and the feasibility study. Construction of the plant began in December of the same year.

The project, which is being implemented by a foreign company, Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company, is worth $2.9 billion. The complex will have the capacity to produce and process 5 billion cubic metres of gas per year.

To date, $1.45 billion has been invested in the development of the field, and drilling has been completed on 20 wells. Eleven gas wells have been successfully tested. Foundation work and construction of steel structures are almost complete.

The designs and construction of the plant are based on Shell’s licensed technologies. It meets the latest environmental requirements and is capable of neutralising 99 per cent of harmful production waste. Indeed, this is the first plant in the CIS to install such equipment.

Another important feature is that the plant itself generates electricity and supplies it to the residents of the district.

Here, the head of our state was acquainted with the results of geological exploration and seismic studies. A meeting was held with investors, specialists and contractors involved in the development of the field.

“The main goal is not to sell gas as a raw material, but to process it and produce value-added products. In order to quickly recoup investments and make the plant competitive, it is necessary to ensure that the final products are of high quality and profitable,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The task was set to develop a decree to this effect.

The complex is located 20 kilometres from the town of Baysun. More than 7,000 people are currently working on its construction. The first phase will be launched in May next year and full capacity will be reached in 2025.

The plant will be the eighth gas chemical complex in our country and one of the largest industrial enterprises in Surkhandarya. It will provide many thousands of people with decent jobs.

– The people of Baisun should feel that such a huge plant has been built in their neighbourhood and thousands of jobs have been created. Now it is necessary to develop related industries around this complex,” said the President.

A project to develop another deposit discovered in Baisun – oil shale – was also presented. Information was provided on the possibilities of producing electricity, oil and gas on its basis.