BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 13. US Air Products envisions playing a significant role in the development of Uzbekistan’s hydrogen market and energy security through the recently announced acquisition of hydrogen assets at Fergana Refinery, Vice President of Air Products at Central Europe and Central Asia Vaclav Harant told Trend.
"We want to help Uzbekistan establish a strong hydrogen infrastructure by using our 60 years of global hydrogen production and distribution experience. The recent Fergana Refinery hydrogen asset acquisition supports our objective to improve energy security and sustainability. We will supply the refinery with reliable hydrogen and create a hydrogen merchant market to serve Uzbekistan's economic and environmental goals, boosting its industrial gas industry," he said.
Vaclav Harant noted that besides passing on knowledge and expertise, taking the personnel skillset to the next level and making sure operational safety is top-notch are crucial for the company.
"We will implement our best practices to maintain a secure working environment. Operational discipline, combined with safety-first protocols, will optimize hydrogen production processes, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and the wellbeing of our workforce," the vice president of the company stressed.
He also added that Air Products’ comprehensive safety strategies include rigorous training programs, regular safety audits, and the adoption of advanced safety technologies to mitigate risks and enhance overall operational performance.
Meanwhile, Air Products has signed a $140 million deal to acquire Saneg’s (Uzbekistan’s private oil and gas company) hydrogen production assets at the Fergana Oil Refinery.
This acquisition is right up the refinery's alley in terms of their global modernization process and represents a crucial move in the expansion and optimization of their production capabilities. Crucially, the project will pave the way for broader commercial utilization of hydrogen on the industrial production market in Uzbekistan.