Uzbekneftegaz Discusses Bukhara Refinery Modernisation With Axens, Technip and CPECC

Uzbekneftegaz held talks with French companies Axens and Technip and China's CPECC about their possible participation in modernising the Bukhara oil refinery. The meeting was led by Abdugani Sanginov, chairman of the board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, the company's information service reported.

The parties discussed a project to raise the refinery's annual processing capacity from 2.5 million to 5 million tonnes. Possible roles for international partners include developing the expansion concept, selecting technologies and licensors, preparing the basic engineering design, supplying equipment, construction and project management.

Sanginov stressed that time is critical for the project and asked each company to submit preliminary technical and commercial proposals within a week. The talks follow an instruction from the President of Uzbekistan given on 3 November during a visit to the Bukhara refinery, which set the goal of doubling capacity and attracting leading international companies. The specific terms of participation for Axens, Technip and CPECC have not yet been determined.