A USD 2.5 Billion Methanol-to-Olefin Complex Slated for Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is all set to house a gas chemical complex featuring the Methanol-to-Olefin technology in the fourth quarter of 2023. The complex, which will be located in the centre of the free economic zone at Karakul, Bukhara region, will facilitate the production of 720,000 tons of polymers annually by leveraging domestically produced raw materials.

Supported by the technology of USA-based Scientific Design Company Inc., the plant will be accountable for producing monoethylene glycol which will be further used as the raw material for producing polyethylene terephthalate using the technology provided by the Chinese company Chemtex Global Corporation. The plant will also be exhibiting the production of low density polyethylene (LDPE), the first one for Uzbekistan, and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) by exploiting technology from the leading Italian technology provider Versalis. The EVA unit will exhibit an annual capacity of 180,000 tonnes. The plant’s olefin output will also contain polypropylene volumes which will be produced by leveraging the expertise of USA-based W. R. Grace & Co.

Polyolefins like propylene, polyethylene terephthalate, LDPE etc., are derived from the polymerization of olefin monomers. They exhibit myriad applications in almost every sector of our society. For instance, polypropylene is widely applied in commodity packaging, automobile parts, home appliances, construction, and healthcare. On the other hand, polyethylene terephthalate finds application in the packaging of beverages, film coverings for the food, automotive and construction sectors.

As per ChemAnalyst, the polyolefin demand has been on a rise throughout the last decade and is expected to remain strong even in the coming years backed by the fast-growing economy, increasing disposable income and shifting preferences to packaged products. The commencement of a major polyolefin complex in Uzbekistan is expected to lift the country’s economy by reducing its dependency on imports and increasing its export channels to countries like China, Turkey, and other South Asian regions. The Free Economic Zone with its advantages of offering ample energy supply, tax exemption to domestic and foreign producers, permitting trade in foreign currencies will benefit the country in expanding its global footprint through its business.