Uzbekistan, UMMC sign memorandum to implement Tebinbulak titanium-magnetite project

Uzbekistan and the Ural Mining and Metallurgy Company signed a memorandum on implementation of the project on developing titanium-magnetite ore Tebinbulak field in Karakalpakstan with the construction of a steelmaking plant for US$1.5 billion. The Tebinbulak field has an forecasted resource base of 3.5 bn t of ore similar to the deposits of Kachkanar in the Urals. The field is located near Nukus and was opened in 1937.

The document was signed at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow on 3 April 2017 within the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia (4-5 April 2017).

The project on development of Tebinbulak field envisages the construction of a mining complex with a capacity of 14.7 million tonnes of ore a year with production of titanium and vanadium by 2021  Due to high investment expenses, the field has been slow to enter development. The field is being rehabilitated in order to create own resource base of Uzmetkombinat, which currently produces carbon steel flat and long products and also manufactures rolled copper and copper alloy products, as well as processing and recycling steel scrap. It is estimated that the field can provide long term raw materials for the future operation of the combine.

Source: https://www.uzdaily.com/articles-id-38939.htm 

Update : Takhiatash Thermal Power Plant Upgrade

The Takhiatash thermal power plant is to be upgraded to meet rising electricity demand in the western part Uzbekistan. The project will involve building two combined-cycle gas turbine units with a capacity of 230-280 MW, decommissioning old and inefficient power generation units, improving energy efficiency, and increasing power supply to the Karakalpakstan and Khorezm regions.

UzbekEnergo announced in December 2016 that the consortium including the South Korean Hyundai Engineering and Hyundai Engineering and Construction won the tender for the modernisation of Takhiatash Thermal Power Plant (TPP).

The consortium who won the international competition for the project "Construction of two 230-280 MW combined cycle power plants (CCPP) at at Takhiatash TPP" proposed a price of 457 million dollars and a 2.5 year build time. There were a total of 10 bidders from China, South Korea and Turkey. Hyundai winning the tender against strong competition from Turkey (Calik) and several China EPCs.

The project will cost a total of $ 678.2 million funded by a $ 300 million Asian Development Bank loan, US $ 230.7 million from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and the rest from UzbekEnergo’s own funds.

The current capacity of Takhiatash GRES is 730 MW. The first unit was commissioned in 1956, the last (fifth) - in 1967. The power plant provides electricity to the north-west of Uzbekistan- the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region.

The Takhiatash TPP is the main source of power supply in the Karakalpakstan and Khorezm regions. In 2012, power consumption in these regions was 2,293 mln. kilowatt-hours (kWh) with maximum load of 466 megawatts (MW). By 2020, the power consumption is expected to exceed 3,620 mln. kWh, with maximum load of 620 MW.

(ED: Note The term GRES (Russian: ГРЭС) refers to a condenser type electricity-only thermal power station introduced in the Soviet Union which still exist in Russia and other former Soviet republics. The Russian abbreviation ГРЭС stands for Государственная районная электростанция, or "state-owned district power plant" Over time the abbreviation has lost its literal meaning, and the term refers to a high-power (thousands of megawatt) thermal power station of condenser type. The term TEC or TETs (Russian: ТЭЦ, теплоэлектроцентраль) refers to combined heat and power plants).

Revisiting the Documentary film "the passion of Igor Savitsky".

Документальный фильм «Страсть Игоря Савицкого». Режиссер - Али Хамраев.

A documentary film "the passion of Igor Savitsky". Director - Ali Khamraev 1998, Ali Khamraev, Uzbekistan/Italy/France, 82 min. With Arielle Dombasle, Abdrashid Abdrakhmanov, Djavakhir Zakhirov.

The film "The Passion of Igor Savitsky" was released on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth. Directed by  Ali Khamraev  the film to the legendary Igor Savitsky  a collector of art and great supporter of preserving the culture of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan.

Igor Vitalievich Savitsky left Moscow as a young artist for the deserts of Central Asia in the early post war years.  The film following the path of Igor Vitalievich filming in Moscow, Tashkent and Nukus, and in the different regions of Karakalpakstan. Everywhere the filmmakers went, local residents gladly shared their memories of this amazing man. They interviewed many who remembered him including the son of the legendary artist Alexander Nikolaevich Volkov - Alexander Volkov, the President of the Pushkin Museum. А.С. A.S.. Pushkin - Irina Antonova, Savitsky successor - Marinika Babanazarova, Alvina Shpade - colleague and colleague of Igor Savitsky, the sculptor - Zholdasbek Kuttymuratov and many others who all share their memories and tell the story of the formation of Igor Savitsky as a collector and creator of the unique museum named after him in Nukus. The film presents a list of artists works saved by Igor Vitalievich: Nikolai Karakhan, Mikhail Kurzin, Alexander Nikolaev (Usto Mumin), Tansykbaev Ural, Mazel Ruvim, Benkov Pavel, Ufimtsev Viktor, Borovaya Nadezhda and many others. 

Igor Savitsky's fascination with the search for ancient treasures and his love of the avant-garde has resulted in the creation of one of the most unique art museums in the world, well worth visiting for anyone who is visiting  western Uzbekistan.  Nukus is only  a few hours drive north of Urgench, and for those who are staying in Khiva the museum can easily be visited on a day trip. For those that have more time there are a number of excellent hotels in Nukus allowing them to experience the unique culture and sights of Karakalpakstan.

Chorsu Bazar

Tashkent's Chorsu bazaar is Central Asia`s most famous market, topped by a giant turquoise dome, located between the modern and the old city and situated Medieval Kulkedash madrassah and Tashkent’s principal Juma (Friday) mosque. It is a wonderful place to discover local life, its amazing to stroll about the bazaars, either bargaining with the shopkeepers, or sitting on the thresholds and looking at the labours of the artisans, or watching the trade that is going on.  Its also a great place to sit in a choy-khanna or ‘tea house’ where you can stop to have a hot tea and shashlik kebabs. 

Under the huge turquoise cupola you will see continuous stalls where stallholders sell their goods. The atmosphere of the whole bazaar is covered by aromas and flavours herbs and spices which are arranged in brightly coloured mounds as are nuts, seeds and sweets, also stack of varieties of bread and other sweetmeats.

Visitors will also be amazed by the abundance and variety of its fresh fruits and vegetables. During the summer season there are mountains of tasty watermelons and melons, scores of potatoes, onions, pumpkins, tomatoes, chilies, pomegranates, persimmons and many other vegetables and whatever fruits are in season. Another specialty of the market is salted sun-dried cheese is made from boiled milk known as Kurt. 

Beside the bazar there is also a row of workshops under small domes. Inside, craftsmen make and sell their works: jewellery and gold embroidery; sanduk - dowry chests with metal decorations; beshik - painted cradles; embroidered suzanes - thin tapestries and jiyak - lace for trimming the lower edges of women's wide trousers; chapan - men's and yashmak - women's quilted cloaks; and pichok - knives in leather or brass sheaths; wicker baskets and trays and a variety of traditional musical instruments. There are also workshops of tinsmiths and blacksmiths, carpenters and wood-carvers.

There are also row after row of stalls selling all kinds of clothing and shoes modern lots of good quality men and women's fashions and traditional items such as tyuboteyka, the traditional Uzbek men’s cap and chyrpy's  cloaks. As well you will also find in the grounds of the bazar lots of handmade kurpacha-colourful mattresses and a huge assortment of carpets / rugs and other items from all over and you can't help remembering that you are in the very heart of the Silk Road.  Sources: Various (Ed)