Kungrad Soda Plant 15th year of Independence Commemorative Stamp

 

Kungrad Soda Ash Plant - Update

The Kungrad soda plant has a capacity to manufacture 102 thousand tons of soda annually. A Major expansion of the facility now underway (2013-2015) is set to double the annual production output to 200 thousand tons. The proposed expansion being carried out by Uzkimyosanoat JSC and the Chinese company CITIC. The project funded by a loan provided by People’s Republic of China in the amount of $81.7 million USD. Besides the Chinese Eximbank loan, the project worth a total of $110 million USD will be financed by a loan from the Reconstruction and Development Fund and Uzhimprom's own funds.

The plant capacity will be expanded by increasing the production of limestone in the Jamansay quarry and technical salt at the resource base of the Kungard soda plant at Barsakelmes. Explored reserves of the Barsakelmes salt field exceed 130 million tons of salt, and the Dzhamansay limestone deposit around 70 million tons.

The main domestic consumers of soda plant are enterprises producing household chemicals and building materials, including the production of various types of glass. Currently the needs of the domestic market were estimated at 70-80 million tons, the remaining volume to be exported.

In 2013 Kungrad soda plant (Ustyurt) exported 22,000 tons of Soda Ash and 78,000 tons of technical salt and limestone to foreign customers. Currently product is exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. An additional 70 employees, mostly graduates of Kungrad Chemical Engineering College were employed in 2013.

This year (Expected to be commision in October 2014) the facility will also start producing quality iodized salt. The raw material will be extracted from Koraumbet salt deposit, not far from the enterprise. The production line, employing an additional 35 technical staff will produce some 10 thousand tons of iodized salt per year.

A further expansion of the production: with the start of commissioning process line for the production of hyper-pressed limestone bricks with a capacity of 20 million pieces a year is also scheduled in the second half of 2014 which will provide a further 65 technical jobs and in 2015, the plant also plans to start significant glass production (30 percent which is planned to be exported).

Sources:

http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/uzbekistan/2084978.html

http://uza.uz/en/business/3754/

http://www.uz24.uz/en/Economics/kungrad-soda-plant-today:-facts-and-figures

Kungrad Soda Plant expanding its capacity to 1.5 K tonnes per year

During 2013-2014, the State Joint Stock Company Uzkhimprom and China's Citic Pacific Ltd. is undertaking a project to increase the current capacity of the Kungrad Soda Plant in northern Karakalpakstan to 150,000 tons of soda ash per year.

The two companies signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2012, which envisages increasing the plants capacity by 1.5 times - up to 150 KTa of soda ash by 2015. Specialists from Citic Pacific and from the design institute "Uzkhimesanoatloyiha" a division of Uzkhimprom feasibility estimate that the cost of the expansion will be in the order of USD 50 million. The project financing is via a loan from China Exim Bank and the Uzbek companies funds.

Note: The first stage of the expansion which doubled production to 100 KTa of soda ash was commissioned in August 2006 at a total project cost of USD 100 million.

Source: http://www.mrcplast.com/news-news_open-144166.html and http://en.trend.az/capital/business/1935684.html

KUNGRAD Soda Ash plant

KUNGRAD Soda Ash plant

After 4 year construction period starting in 2002 the Kungrad Soda Ash plant was commissioned in August 2006.

The plant, a joint venture between Chinese group China International Trust & Investment Company International Cooperation Company and Uzbekistan's UzKimyoSanoat (a major Uzbek chemical industry conglomerate) cost US$100 million to build and occupies 60 hectares, The plant has a projected production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of soda ash yearly.

Citic Pacific Ltd carried out the design and turn-key construction of the technological side of the plant (cost US$32.3 million) funded by a loan of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (90% of the contract cost) with the insurance provided by the Chinese Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, and a loan of the UzPromStroyBank (Uzbek Industrial Construction Bank, 10% of the contract cost) guaranteed by the Uzbek government.

General construction works were performed by local construction companies for UzKimyoSanoat.

The production of Kungrad Soda Plant covers domestic demand and export sales of soda ash, hydrate of sodium, and table salt.

Uzbekistan's current domestic demand for soda ash is 60,000-70,000 tonnes yearly.

The main consumers being the household chemical industry and the producers of construction materials and glass makers.

The resource base for Kungrad Soda Plant is the Barsakelmes salt deposit (explored reserves estimated at 131 million tonnes of common salt containing 97% of NaCl) and the Jamansay limestone deposit (explored reserves estimated at 70 million tonnes) both located in the north of Karakalpakstan near the industrial city of Kungrad.

They are currently producing 240-250 tons a day of high-quality product (equivalent to 85,000 tons of soda a year). The plant employs 1,300 people (making it the largest industrial employer in the Republic). Among the main buyers of the plant's products are the companies Quartz, PharmGlass, Gazalkent Oyna, Uzqurulishmateriallari, Uzkimyosanoat and Uzbekneftegaz.

It is on target this year (2009) to export over 36,000 tons of soda to overseas buyers in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Clients to date have included the Bryansk Chemical Company (Russia), Maylisuu Electric Lamp Plant (Kyrgyzstan), Power Global Engineering (Kazakhstan) and Letreh Invest (Turkmenistan).


Source:http://www.south.citic.com

Karakalpak Economy - A Brief Summary

The Republic of Karakalpakstan is a sovereign state within the Republic of Uzbekistan. Its territory is 166,600 sq. km (37% of the total area) and the population is 1.6 mln. people (approximately 5.6% of the total population), however, its GDP is only 2.4% of that of Uzbekistan. It is populated mainly by Karakalpaks in the North and Uzbeks in the South. Karakalpakstan consists of 14 districts.

Karakalpakstan has its own Constitution, which is in line with that of Uzbekistan. The state system of the Republic is based upon the constitutional division of powers between legislative, executive and judiciary branches. The Jokargi Kenes (parliament) is the legislative body of the Republic, while the Council of Ministers is the highest executive body.

Geographically, the territory of Karakalpakstan consists of the north-western part of the Kyzyl Kum Desert, the south-eastern part of the Usturt Plateau and the Amu Darya River delta, as well as the southern part of the Aral Sea. The Amu Darya is the only river that flows through the given area. There are a variety of natural resources such as gold, uranium, gas, iron, phosphorus, bentonite and kaolin clay, salt, marble, and granite. Climate is typically continental with dry and hot summers and cold winters. The traditional occupation of the Karakalpaks is livestock farming, agriculture and fishing.

On the east Karakalpakstan occupies the western half of the Kyzylkum Desert, a vast plain covered with shifting sands. The central part consists of the valley and delta of the Amu Darya (river), a low-lying area intersected by watercourses and canals. On the west the republic includes the southeastern part of the Ustyurt Plateau, a slightly undulating area characterized by flat summits rising to some 958 feet (292 m) above sea level. The climate is marked by cool winters and hot summers. Average rainfall is only 3 to 4 inches (75 to 100 mm).

About one-half of the population is urban. Nukus, the capital, Khŭjayli, Beruniy, Takhiatosh, Chimbay, Tŭrtkŭl, and Altykyl are the chief settlements.

The economy is predominantly agricultural. The industrial sector, while limited, includes light manufacturing, refineries that process oil from nearby petroleum fields, several building-materials plants that utilize the limestone, gypsum, asbestos, marble, and quartzite of the area, and a power station in Takhiatosh.

The main sectors of the economy are agriculture (cotton, rice, melons, watermelons, vegetables, karakul sheep, and cattle) and industry (electricity and energy production, textile and food industry). Cotton reprocessing is the leading branch of industry.


The Cotton Crop

Cotton is cultivated along the Amu Darya and in its delta and is processed at Chimbay, Qŭnghirot, Beruniy, Takhtakupyr, Khŭjayli, and Mangit. A well-developed system of irrigation canals supplies water from the Amu Darya to the crops. Besides cotton, crops include alfalfa, rice, and corn (maize). Cattle and Karakul sheep are raised in the Kyzylkum Desert.

Transport facilities in the republic include a railway from Kungrad (Qŭnghirot) to Charjou (Chärjew) in Turkmenistan, motor roads that link several cities of the republic, and air connections with Moscow, Tashkent and Muynak. Area 63,900 square miles (165,600 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 1,678,191.

Karakalpakstan has its own peculiarities which define the character of its economy and infrastructure. Low density of the population and vast areas of land significantly increase the cost of investments into its industrial, physical and social infrastructure. Remoteness of settlements, factories and SME enterprises also increases the cost of manufactured production due to additional expenses for delivery of raw materials, energy resources, water, electricity, and export of this production. All this accounts to a great extent for the ’closeness’ of the Karakalpak economy from neighbouring regions and countries.

Karakalpakstan has is own Constitution and Parliament (Jokargi Kenes) which rules the country. The government is headed by the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan has significant mineral resources: natural gas, crude oil. granite, bentonite, kaolin, marble, phosphoric and erbium-doped metals deposits with a sprinkle of precious stones and metals. It also has the largest oil and gas deposits in Uzbekistan. About 20 of these deposits were discovered on the Ustyurt plateau. The estimated oil and gas resources on the Ustyurt plateau amount to 1,7 trillion cubic meters of gas and 1,7 billion tons of liquid hydrocarbons.

The most developed industries are the production of construction materials, agricultural production and processing and metalwork. There are also textile and foodstuff factories in the republic. The Tahiatash and Tyuyamuyunsk power plants completely satisfy the demands for electric power in the republic with enough over to supply the neighboring Khorezm region and Turkmenistan. The Republic also has wind and solar power resources.

Cotton and rice are the two dominant agricultural crops. Fruit, vegetables, potatoes and forage plants are also cultivated in this region. Cultivation is possible in irrigated areas only. Livestock is generally pastoral including karakul sheep, cattle, camels and horses.

The total length of tarred roads in the Republic is about 3000 km and the Chardjow-Kungrad-Beineu-Makat railway passes through Karakalpakstan on route from Central Asia to Russia.

The Academy of Sciences of Republic of Uzbekistan has established a branch in Karakalpakstan.

Source: http://mansurovs.com/Umid/Main/Uzbekistan/Regions/Karakalpakstan/karakalpakstan.html