22/May/2023   Fact

Global leaders in gas-to-liquids technology seek further energy innovations in Samarkand

TASHKENT, May 22. /“Dunyo” IA/. Global leaders in gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology gathered in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this week for a first-of-its kind conference, reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.

Held from 21-23 of May, the conference focused on world-class GTL technologies developed by South Africa’s Sasol and Denmark’s Haldor Topsoe, which are currently in use in Uzbekistan.

The conference brought together over 65 engineers and technicians from companies operating GTL plants built with Sasol’s LTFT™ and Haldor Topsoe’s SynCOR technologies. These unique refining processes enable the conversion of natural gas into liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. GTL technology enables countries with natural gas resources to refine valuable liquid fuels typically refined from crude oil.

According to the International Energy Organization, Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest natural gas producers, producing around 60 billion cubic metres each year. The Samarkand conference was organized by Uzbek energy giant Uzbekneftegaz JSC and its subsidiary Uzbekistan GTL, which is the world’s fifth largest producer of GTL synthetic liquid fuels.

The Samarkand conference helped foster deeper cooperation between leading producers of synthetic liquid fuels. Over the course of three days, engineers and technicians operating GTL facilities shared their experiences, outlined plans for further development, and discussed potential new innovations in GTL technology, particularly those that would deliver efficiency improvements.

Technical case studies were presented on leading GTL facilities around the world, including Uzbekistan GTL, Escravos GTL, and Topsoe SynCOR plants.

Kidirbay Kaypnazarov, 1st Deputy General Director of Uzbekistan GTL, hailed the conference as a landmark event for the further development of GTL technology.

“I consider this forum a significant event for the oil and gas industry. We were proud to gather an array of experts specializing in the production of synthetic liquid fuels from natural gas. The conference was an amazing platform the kind of exchanges that can lead to the development and implementation of new technologies in this industry,” he said.

“We are proud that Uzbekistan has emerged as a global center for GTL technologies, which can have a transformative impact on the global energy industry,” he added.

The conference was organized with support from Sasol (South Africa), Topsoe (Denmark), Escravos GTL (Nigeria), and Secunda CTL (South Africa).

Participants in the conference also visited the Uzbekistan GTL plant, located in Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region.