Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan.13 / Trend D. Azizov /
The National Holding Company (NHC) Uzbekneftegaz announced a tender to conduct the audit and develop the preliminary feasibility study of projects on upgrading existing capacities of Bukhara and Fergana oil refineries to produce oil products meeting "Euro 3" standards, the holding company told Trend today.
The total cost of projects on upgrading two oil refineries, which Uzbekneftegaz plans to implement in 2011-2015, according to preliminary estimates, will hit about $200 million.
The projects will be funded at the expense of the Uzbekneftegaz's own funds and foreign investment.
Under the terms of the announced tender, a winner must develop options to optimize the existing technological units of the two plants, as well as scheme to increase the output of light oil products to 95 percent. Bids are accepted until Feb. 10 2011.
Results of the contest are planned to be summed up in the first quarter of this year. Feasibility study of the projects will be prepared in the first quarter of 2012 in order to announce a tender to select equipment suppliers by the end of the first quarter.
The total capacity of the three oil refineries of the republic - Bukhara, Fergana and Alty-Arik currently hits 11.12 million tons.
As it was previously reported, in 2009, the Bukhara oil refinery began mass production of jet fuel Jet A-1. Investments in construction of production line of new fuel type with capacity of 500 tons per day amounted to about three million dollars. Now similar works are being carried out at the Fergana oil refinery, where it is planned to create a production line with capacity of about one thousand tons per day.
According to official statistics, oil production in Uzbekistan in Jan.-Nov. 2010 declined by 14.9 percent - up to 1,824 million tons, gas condensate production - by 22.5 percent to 1,534 million tons. Gasoline production fell by 10.8 percent - up to 1,319 million tons, kerosene - by 8.7 percent to 336,800 tons, diesel oil - by 12.4 percent to 1,055 million tons.