Short Videos about Karakalpakstan

1. From All Points  : 2012 Asrlar Sadosi Festival, Karakalpakstan  by Michal Shapiro (USA)

(29:19)

Go to From All Points

A Bakhshi in Central Asia by Michal Shapiro (USA) (5:05)

Go to A Bakhshi in Central Asia

2.  Postcard from Nukus by Zaunka (Spain) (1:28)

Go to Postcard from Nukus  http://www.zaunka.com/

3. Around Karakalpakstan (5 linked videos - Utube Channel) 

Go to  Around Karakalpakstan

4. Du Karakalpakstan à la Kabardino-Balkarie by Romain Darnieaud (8:59)

Go to http://vimeo.com/94096446

5. Journey of Discovery (0:59)

Uzbekistan Airways starts flights from Tashkent to / from Singapore

Uzbekistan Airways (Uzbekistan Havo Yollari) carried out its first flight Tashkent-Singapore on the 2nd April 2014 with its Boeing-767 service; allowing Uzbekistan to further attract tourists from Singapore and ASEAN and Southwest Pacific countries such as Australia and New Zealand who can generally more easily connect in and out to Central Asia via Singapore rather than KL or Bangkok.

The new Tashkent-Singapore service will open up business and tourism opportunities into the respective regions of both cities. From its Tashkent hub, Uzbekistan Airways provides travellers direct and quick access to Central Asia and the Russian Western Siberian Oblasts through its extensive regional flight network. Likewise, Singapore provides travellers from Central Asia a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific, with over 50 city links and close to 2,000 weekly services.

Uzbekistan is among Central Asia’s most rapidly developing economies. Since 2006, the country’s GDP growth has performed better than those of most other Caucasian and Central Asian nations. With its robust economic growth, the International Air Transport Association has forecast Uzbekistan to be the fastest growing market for all international passenger traffic by 2017.

http://www.azernews.az/region/65787.html

All flights on the route will be operated using a 247-seat, two-class Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with a stop in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesdays and direct flights on Thursdays.

Uzbekistan Airways connects to 21 cities in Europe, U.S., Middle East, Asia, 22 cities of the CIS countries, as well as 11 domestic destinations.

IN ITALIAN:

UZBEKISTAN April 4th 2014 - La Uzbekistan Airways NAC attuerà regolari voli Tashkent - Singapore. Fonte Trend che cita il servizio stampa della società. I voli saranno operati con Boeing - 767 aeromobili di mercoledì (via Kuala Lumpur) e giovedì.

La Compagnia aerea nazionale (NAC) "Uzbekistan Airways " effettua voli verso 21 città in Europa, America, Medio Oriente, Asia e in 22 città di paesi della CSI e 11 destinazioni interne .

Nel 2013, NAC " Uzbekistan Airways " ha compiuto circa 24.600 voli e trasportato 2.677.000 passeggeri (con un incremento rispetto al 2012 del 1,6 per cento).

Uzbekistan Airways International moderna flotta di aeromobili è costituito - Boeing 767-300 (4), 757-200 (5),767-300 - ER(4) , 13 Airbus (3 A-310 e 10 A-320-200), RJ - 85 (3) e aerei cargo Airbus A300- 600F (2).

http://www.agccommunication.eu/inostriservizi-it/informazione-e-formazione/osservatorio-est/russia-e-asia-centrale/7000-volo-uzbekistan

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra)

Glycyrrhiza Glabra better known as (licorice / liquorice extract) is widely used in the global pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Milled root waste remaining after the extract is acquired can also be used in the production of particle board and chipboard.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, more than thirty companies and enterprises with different types of ownership are engaged in procurement and processing of licorice across Uzbekistan. 

Licorice is a plant of ancient origin, steeped in history, and has been medicinally used for more than 4000 years. It is a component of many traditional medical systems. Hippocrates in 400 BC mentioned it as a remedy for ulcers.

Glycyrrhiza is Greek-derived, meaning "sweet root" and Glycyrrhiza glabra means sweet root with hairless seed pods. The dried, peeled or unpeeled underground stems and roots constitute the Licorice.

Licorice is a perennial plant, growing about 1.5 meter high. The wrinkled and woody rootstock is brown outside and yellow inside; sweet-tasting. Leaves are unequally branched, in 4-7 pairs.

Flowers are pale blue, violet, yellowish-white or purplish in colour, arising from the axils of the leaves in racemes or spikes, followed by pods. Pods are smooth and small, resembling a partly-grown peapod, compressed with many seeds.

Licorice extracts and its principal component, glycyrrhizin are extensively use in the manufacture of food, tobacco products, and snuff, and in traditional and herbal medicine.

Licorice extract (block, powder, or liquid) may be applied to cigarette tobacco at levels of about 1-4% to enhance and harmonize the flavour characteristics of smoke, improve moisture-holding characteristics of tobacco, and act as a surface-active agent for ingredient application.

Licorice flavor is found in a wide variety of  candies and it is also found in some soft drinks (eg, root beer) and is in some herbal teas where it provides a sweet aftertaste. Sweet root is said to contain compounds that are roughly 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Licorice is also known throughout the world for its wide variety of medicinal properties. The reason for this can be linked to a certain compound found within the roots of the plant known as Glycyrrhizic Acid. This acid, seen to the right, is said to be capable of treating ulcers and asthma and other aliments however is also known for causing serious health problems if taken in large enough doses. This acid is found in higher concentrations in the fibrous root system which grows closer to the surface rather than the tap root which grows deeper.

Its medicinal usage is extensive. It is used as a demulcent, emollient, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, alterative, diuretic and laxative. It is considered to have antibacterial, anti-hepatotoxic, estrogenic, antifungal, anti-haemorrhoidal, anti-hyperglycaemic, antimalarial, antioxidant, antiulcer properties. All parts the roots, leaves, and rhizomes are used.

In Uzbekistan the infusion of the rootstock used for cough, colds, bronchitis, asthma, hoarseness and dysuria. Powdered roots used as expectorant. Strong decoction also acts as a laxative.

Other afflictions treated:
- Peptic Ulcers: There are mixed results that show licorice taken with antacids can help to treat ulcers.-Canker sores: Gargling dissolved licorice may help with pain relief.

- Eczema: It has been found using a licorice gel with 2% concentration of Glycyrrhizic acid can help relieve itching, swelling, and redness.

- Indigestion: Studies have shown that using an herbal formula known as Iberogast, which also contains the anti-indigestion ingredients peppermint and chamomile, can reduce indigestion.
- Upper Respiratory Infections: Licorice has been found to help with symptoms associated with asthma.

While licorice is capable of treating a multitude of symptoms, precautions must be made when considering to take licorice as an alternative medicine. Most licorice related supplements and medicines contain around 2% Glycyrrhizic acid. It has been found that reaching a daily intake of 100-400mg of Glycyrrhizic acid can cause many serious health problems. When consumed in large quantities, it can cause your body’s potassium levels to fall to the point that some people experience headaches, arrhythmia, a rise in blood pressure, swelling (oedema) and even congestive heart failure as well. Heavy consumption has been associated with increased risk of preterm birth.

Glycyrrhizinates can inhibit 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for inactivating cortisol. High level exposure can produce hypermineralocorticoid-like effects in both animals and humans. At high doses this may produce potentially severe side effects – hypertension, hypokalemia, and fluid retention. Most adverse effects attributed to glycyrrhiza (glycyrrhizic acid). Processing can remove the glycyrrhiza to produce DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) without the metabolic side effects of the unprocessed licorice (liquorice). 

Read more:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/is-licorice-dangerous-124253923/#fb7silRvjVy7DsyE.99

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/licorice

(Ed: Groundwater contamination from the chemicals that are used in licorice extraction has been a major problem where proper treatment processes have not been utilised)

Takhiatash Thermal Power Station Modernisation

Uzbekistan plans to raise a loan of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for about $200 million for a project to modernise the Takhiatash thermal power plant (TPP). The provisional cost of the project is esimated to be $330 million.

 

The government of Uzbekistan and the ADB have reached a preliminary agreement on the financial assistance for the project. In August 2013 ADB provided Uzbekenergo with a grant of $1.2 million for the feasibility study of the project in mid-2013.

Modernization of Takhiatash TPP located in the north-western Uzbekistan, is largely due to the expansion of the oil and gas companies' activities in the development of fields in the Ustyurt plateau.

As part of the modernisation it is planned to install by 2016, two new gas turbines, 140 MW each and construct a cooling tower for two units, 210 MW each. The project will allow to increase plant capacity by 30 percent in addition it will reduce the current discharge of waste water.

Funding is to be provided by the ADB loan funds, the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo's own funds.

Installed capacity of five energy units of Takhiatash thermal power plant currently is 730 MW. The first unit was commissioned in 1956, the fifth - in 1967. The power plant provides electricity to the north-west of the country the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm region.

Source: Edited - TRENDNewsAgency Article September 2013

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

Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line

The Tashkent to Samarkand high-speed rail line is a 344 kilometre, high speed rail connection between the two largest cities in Uzbekistan Tashkent. The Talgo 250 train service operates nine times a week under the brand Afrosiyob. See Short Video Constructed from 2011-12 and costing $70 million the line includes both new and rebuilt 1520mm standard C.I.S track, as well as adding modern signalling systems to the route. In addition to building track capable of supporting the high-speed service, other upgraded track was built from Samarkand to the cities of Bukhara and Urgench-Khiva as part of the project. Trains  to Nukus and beyond using the already modernised Uchkuduk-Urgench/Nukus line.  The 344 kilometres high-speed line is capable of speeds up to 250 km/h, with a total travel time between Tashkent and Samarkand of about two hours. The Talgo 250 trainset consists of two power cars, eight passenger cars with a capacity of 257 people and a dining car. Daily commercial service of the Afrosiyob leaves Tashkent at 8:00 am arriving Samarkand at 10.10am. Weekends additional service leaving at 7:00am arriving at 9:10am (see below for timetable) . Train AFROSIYOB From To Days Departure Arrival Ticket price per pax, USD VIP Business class Economy class №162 Tashkent Samarkand Daily 08:00 10:10 60 45 35 №161 Samarkand Tashkent 17:00 19:10 №160 Tashkent Samarkand Sat, Sun 07:00 09:10 №159 Samarkand Tashkent 18:00 20:10 For more information on trains (to/from and within Uzbekistan) go to Advantour (time table above) http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/trains.htm Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashkent%E2%80%93Samarkand_high-speed_rail_line

Tebinbulak titanium-magnetite mine to be developed Amu darya Rayon

A 3.1 billion USD project for the development of titanium-magnetite ores by Uzbekistan's Uzmetkombinat at the Tebinbulak deposit on the Sultan Uiz Dag Ridge in Southern Karakalpakstan (Amu Darya Rayon) has been initiated.

Russia's JSC Uralmekhanobr based in Ekaterinburg last year issued a positive opinion of the technical feasibility of the project. The State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources has indicated that the mining complex will have a production capacity of some 14.7 million tons of iron ore, as well as further development of up to 1.5 million tons of base iron products annually. Total est. reserves 5 billion tonnes. The field in addition contains valuable titanium and vanadium ore deposits. (Ore has 16.5% Iron content,Titanlium doxide 2% and Vanadium Pentoxide 0.15% content). The project being financed by foreign loans and funding from the Uzbek Government. The Tebinbulak field was discovered in 1937 is similar in type to the Kachkanar field in the South Urals (see http://www.dmgeode.com/DepositPortal.aspx?DepositID=2854).

Kachkanar Mine Urals

Sources: UzDaily
http://www.uzdaily.com/articles-id-26728.htm and http://www.uzdaily.com/articles-id-24445.htm

Update: Uzbek Metallurgical Industrial complex (Uzmetkombinat) plans to start the development of the titanium magnetic ores deposit Tebinbulak this year.  The project is valued at $600 million. It is approved by the Government of Uzbekistan and considers the creation of productive capacity by 2021 and construction of a metallurgical complex on the output of 500 thousand tons of steel products a year.


Source: http://www.rusmininfo.com/news/20-01-2016/%E2%80%9Cuzmetkombinat%E2%80%9D-start-titanium-magnetite-ores-production