Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Navoi and Bukhara regions on 24 September 2016 to assess ongoing social and economic reforms in the field, large-scale works in industry, agriculture and the social spheres.

During his trip to Navoi region Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed large projects, implemented at the Navoiazot JSC in accordance with the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov. In particular, he visited the construction site of the complex on production of polyvinylchloride, caustic soda and methanol. With its commissioning, annually 100 thousand tons of PVC and 295 thousand tons of methanol based on deep processing of local raw materials as well as increase of caustic soda production by 71,8 thousand tons will be produced. 

Also he examined the pace of implementation of a large investment project on construction of ammonia and carbamide (urea) production unit at this enterprise. The new capacities will allow to produce annually 600 thousand tons of ammonia and 577,5 thousand tons of urea. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also visited another construction site, where nitric acid production unit with a capacity of 500 thousand tons per year with modern energy-saving technologies is being erected. After its commissioning, the obsolete equipment, installed here 50 years ago, will be dismantled. 

Implementation of these projects, significant for the chemical industry and in general for the economy of Uzbekistan is carried out on the basis of the newest technologies and equipment by leading companies of Japan, Switzerland, China and other countries. 

These new enterprises will create over 1300 new jobs. Training of personnel, who will be managing the newest technologies and equipment, has already started at the higher educational institutions and professional colleges of the country. It is envisaged that young specialists will undertake internships at the similar enterprises abroad and then will take in the commissioning works and continue to work here. 

Acting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also examined works on landscaping and infrastructure development in Navoi. Draft general plan of Navoi city was discussed, instructions were given on construction of affordable housing for low-income families, the issues of waste disposal were considered. 

During his trip Shavkat Mirziyoyev also surveyed the pace of agricultural works, cotton fields, talked to farmers of Karmana district. 

At the meeting with the representatives of Navoi region, the issues of increasing export potential of the region, effective organization of cotton harvesting and sowing of winter crops, preparing social facilities and houses for the autumn-winter season, harvesting of agricultural products, improving the activity of communal services and house-owners’ association. 

On the same day, Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the construction site of the Kandym gas processing plant in Bukhara region. 

This large 2,6 bln. dollar investment project, implemented jointly with the Russian company LUKOIL, involving Hyundai Engineering (South Korea) and Enter Engineering (Singapore) is a demonstration of practical implementation of the Program on ensuring structural transformation, modernization and diversification of production for 2015-2019, approved by First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov. 

In particular, implementation of this project will allow to extract and process 8,1 bln. cubic meters of natural gas thanks to establishment of new highly technological production and modern infrastructure. 

Just five months ago – on 18 April this year the official ceremony of laying the first stone of the Kandym plant took place. During this period, an enormous preparatory and construction work has been realized, in particular, vertical planning of facilities, preparation and construction of the external infrastructure have been completed, construction and installation works are underway, orders for equipment with long lead have been placed. 

The first phase of the plant is scheduled to open in 2018. 

A meeting of Acting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov took place at the construction site. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev underlined the active work of the company on implementation of joint investment projects in the oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan and expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction of the Kandym gas processing plant. 

In his turn, Vagit Alekperov assured that LUKOIL will provide full and timely implementation of those commitments in the framework of the investment projects in the oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan. 

Today "LUKOIL" carries out investment projects for the development of promising gas fields at Khauzak, Shady, Kungrad and Kandym group, the development of oil and gas areas of South-West Gissar in the Ustyurt region. In the framework of the joint geological prospecting works, promising hydrocarbon fields have been opened in the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea. 

The total volume of the company's investments in projects in Uzbekistan currently exceeds $5.5 billion. 

The parties also discussed promising areas for further expansion of long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with LUKOIL at the meeting.