ABB receives order to lead largest project in Uzbekistan since its independence.
Zurich, Switzerland, February 3, 1996 - ABB, the international engineering company, in cooperation with a group of Japanese companies, has been awarded the contract to build the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex for the National Corporation Uzbekneftegas - a subsidiary of the Uzbekistan Ministry of Oil and Gas. The overall contract has been awarded on a budget value of approximately US$ 500 million, of which the ABB part is valued at approximately US$ 250 million. The project covers the construction of a major chemical complex which includes feed gas treating facilities, a 140,000 tons per year (TPA) ethylene plant using ABB Lummus Global technology, a 125,000 TPA polyethylene plant, a 17,000 TPA butene-1 copolymer plant, and the associated offsite works and services.
The constructing companies, led by ABB, will provide the process technology licences, basic design, detailed engineering and procurement services, supply of equipment and materials, construction management and supervision, field construction, commissioning and start-up services, and assistance during initial operation. The project will be funded from international financing facilities available to Uzbekistan. Repayment of the loans will be made out of the proceeds of domestic and export revenues from the plant.
The award was announced at a press conference at the World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos, Switzerland today by Mr. Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, and Mr. Percy Barnevik, President and Chief Executive Officer of the ABB Group. President Karimov underlined the importance of this project for Uzbekistans plans to develop an independent petrochemical industry. Percy Barnevik said Uzbekistans stability and improving investment climate make it an increasingly attractive country for ABB.
ABB's oil, gas and petrochemical business focuses on the development and up-grading of oil and gas installations, refineries, and petrochemical and chemical installations worldwide. Approximately 8,000 people are employed in these activities.
The business is part of ABB's Industrial and Building Systems segment, which employs over 89,000 people worldwide with orders in 1994 of over US$ 13 billion. The ABB Group employs approximately 212,000 people with orders in 1994 of nearly US$ 32 billion.
(End)