Asian Football Cup Update:Group B Match Uzbekistan 1 - China 2

Asian Football Cup Update: China v Uzbekistan, Brisbane Stadium (Kick off 1 pm 14th January 2015). Uzbekistan took an early lead after 22 minutes through a goal from Odil Ahmedov against the run of play, a speculative long-range shot from outside the box that  deflected off the legs of the Chinese defensive midfielder Wu Xi and at half time Uzbekistan led China 1-0. Ten minutes into the second half Wu Xi made amends after converting a cross from Jiang Zhipeng which floated over the head of Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov. At 69 minutes China then went one up with a spectacular long range solo strike from substitute Sun Ke. Uzbekistan sadly could not find a late equaliser. Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov said that whilst they had the better of the first half, China responded well and made the most of two defensive lapses in the second. China now goes through to the semi final. Uzbekistan must now must beat Saudi Arabia (after their 4-1 win against North Korea yesterday) in  Melbourne on Sunday the 17th January to decide the pool runner-up and a spot in the semi finals. Good luck Uzbekistan!

Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex - Update

The Uz-Kor Gas Chemical JV will complete construction of the est. $4.1 billion Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex in 2015 allowing Uzbekistan to significantly expand its gas production. Currently Uzbekistan has around 10bcm/yr available for export.

Work on the plant began in 2011. It is scheduled to process some 4.5 billion cubic metres per year of gas and produce up to 4 bcm/y of commercial gas, as well as 387,000 tons per year of polyethylene, 83,000 tpa of polypropylene and about 102,000 tpa of pyrolysis gas.

The complex is being developed by Uz - Kor Gas Chemical JV which is a joint venture between the national gas company Uzbekneftegaz and a Korean consortium (consisting of Kogas, Honam Petrochemical and STX Energy). Funding of the construction of the complex is on a joint basis assisted by $2.54 billion in Asian, European and Uzbek bank loans.

The Surgil, Vostochny Berdakh-Uchsay and Severny Berdakh fields will serve as the resource base for the complex. The largest of them – Surgil – contains about 120 bcm of gas.

The whole project involves the development of three distinct yet interrelated components:

Drilling of gas production wells and the construction and expansion of associated production infrastructure for the Surgil, North and East Berdakh Fields, including a Complex Gas Treatment Unit (CGTU) at the Surgil Field (the “Surgil CGTU”) and another CGTU shared between the North and East Berdakh Fields (the “East Berdakh CGTU”).

The construction and operation of the UGCC and associated infrastructure (i.e. workers camp, rail connection, motor road connection, raw water supply line connection, sales gas pipeline, wastewater pipeline and disposal area and electrical power line connection, and other related infrastructure) on the Ustyurt Plateau for the production of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene and export of sales gas; and Construction and operation of below ground gas and condensate pipelines to connect the Surgil Field to the new UGCC, tie in of the existing sales gas pipeline from East Berdakh CGTU to the Surgil gas pipeline and the construction and tie in of a new condensate pipeline linking the East and North Berdakh Gas Fields to the new Surgil condensate pipeline.

 Source: http://interfaxenergy.com/gasdaily/article/14425/uzbekistan-could-complete-ustyurt-complex-by-q3-2015

Uzbekistan Vs North Korea - AFC Group B Match

Group B Match Uzbekistan vs North Korea

Source: AP

Uzbekistan kicked off the 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over North Korea. Igor Sergeev headed in the only goal after 62minutes during a rain-sodden second half to give Uzbekistan a 1-0 win over North Korea in the opening Group B match at the Asian Cup. Uzbekistan was the dominant side throughout, and despite the rainstorm that swirled around Stadium Australia, it created a host of chances."The first game is always tough and there was a little bit of pressure before the game'" said Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.

Uzbekistan will play against China in the second match of the Group. The match will take place on 14 January 2015.
Source: http://www.freenewspos.com/en/latest-news-article/d/1110368/uzbekistan-north/asian-cup-uzbekistan-opens-with-1-0-win-over-north-korea

Karakalpak Dutars

KARAKALPAK DUTAR  - The dutar (Dotar) is the main plucked instrument all over Central Asia. It can be found in many different shapes and styles. Although some players play solos on the dutar, it is mainly used to accompany songs and poetry. In the past, Karakalpak bards (performing poets) roamed from village to village, reciting stories and verses. They were accompanied on the bow played two-stringed dutar, and the qobyz and ghypzhek.

The body of the dutar is made from a single block of (usually mulberry) wood. The flat front is made of thin mulberry wood. The edge of the body around the front is left a bit thicker. The sound-holes are a few drilled holes in a geometrical design.

The long thin neck (made of mulberry or apricot) includes the (straight) peg-box. There is no fret-board. The frets are made of nylon strings and tied-on in half diatonic scale (depends on the player). At the right side of the neck is a groove to ease making the knots in the frets. There are two flat T-shaped friction pegs, one on the front, one on the left. The two metal strings run over a small loose bridge to a bit of wood at the end of the body.

The neck and the body is often highly decorated with inlay bone, with black etchings of lines and circles, and glued and nailed to the instrument. The top of the body also has inlays, together forming a kind of circle. The entire instrument is left unvarnished.

Left hand playing is with two fingers for the first string and the thumb for the second string. The right hand plays normally strumming with the index finger.

Source: http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm

Good reference on the musical culture of Karakalpakstan read Baksi and Jyrau, Duutar and Kobyz by Djumaev Alexander (Journal of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan) for article go to http://sanat.orexca.com/2003/2003-2/baksi_jyrau-2/

Map of the Mouth of the Amu Darya River 1881

Illustration : 'Bouches de L'Amou - Daria.' Amu Darya River Mouth Jacques Elisee Reclus 1881

Plate from 'Nouvelle Geographie Universelle La Terre et les Hommes VI : L' Asie Russe' by Jacques Elisee Reclus published in Paris by Hachette &; Cie. 1881 of the Khwarezm Oasis in Uzbekistan. Jacques Elisee Reclus was a renowned French geographer, writer and anarchist. He produced his 19-volume masterwork La Nouvelle Geographie universelle. la terre et les hommes ('Universal Geography'). Over a period of nearly 20 years (1875-1894).

Map Central Asia Russia Empire 1906

Map: Central Asia Russia Empire 1906 W. & A.K. Johnston, Limited Edinburgh & London 

A.K. Johnston, Limited founded by Alexander Keith Johnston who with his brother William Johnston became the most respected Scottish cartographers and map publishers of the19th century, producing the most detailed and accurate English language maps of the period along with contemporary German August Petermann.

Map of the Khwarezm Oasis in Uzbekistan 1808

Illustration : Map of the Khwarezm Oasis in Uzbekistan 1808

Map of the Khwarezm Oasis titled "Carte de la Kharismie (Tiree du nouvel Atlas de Russie) 1808. The map of the Khwarezm (or Chorasima)covers the Amu Darya river delta from the Aral Sea in the north to Khiwa (Chiwa) in the south. It shows the mountain chains and the route to Tashkent and Orenburg and also notes the ancient bed of the Oxus River (Amu Darya).