Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Currently, the implementation of the project "Production of synthetic liquid fuel based on purified methane of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex" is the largest investment project in the region, known as Uzbekistan GTL and Oltin Yo’l GTL (trademark), given its strategic importance and significance for the economy of the republic continues at an active pace.

The implementation of the OLTIN YO’L GTL project has entered the final phase and is 90.5% complete. Construction and installation work was completed by 75.22%.

Construction work continues at the construction site of the plant, where about 11 thousand workers and specialists are involved, about 1 thousand units of equipment have been mobilized. The work is carried out at a very active pace, in several shifts, primarily observing the safety requirements of workers, with strict adherence to all sanitary and epidemiological requirements, and quality control.

It is planned to complete the construction of the plant by the end of this year, while at some auxiliary and technological units of the plant, pre-commissioning is already underway. The main technological equipment has been delivered to the construction site, the installation of which is being completed.

In the first half of 2021, the plant will begin producing synthetic liquid fuel, with a phased reaching full design capacity.

After reaching its full design capacity, the plant will process 3.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas (methane) per year and produce 1.5 million tons of high-quality, environmentally friendly synthetic liquid fuel, including more than 307 thousand tons of jet fuel, 724 thousand tons diesel fuel, 437 thousand tons of naphtha and 53 thousand tons of liquefied gas.

At the same time, the naphtha produced by GTL will be further sent to the expansion facilities of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex to increase the production of polymer products, thereby creating a single oil and gas chemical cluster.

The domestic market is considered the key market for GTL products. The products will be of particular importance in terms of ensuring and maintaining the country’s fuel and energy independence. The project will provide import substitution of oil products worth about US$1 billion annually.