US industrial gases company Air Products Inc. has signed an investment agreement for $1 billion with the Uzbekistan government and state-owned Uzbekneftegaz JSC to acquire, own, and operate a natural gas-to-syngas industrial complex in Uzbekistan’s southeastern Qashqadaryo province, the US company reported in a May 25 media statement.
Air Products said the complex is an integral part of Uzbekneftegaz’s gas-to-liquid facility, producing 1.5 million mt/y of synthetic fuels for domestic use and potential export.
Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the US company will acquire, own, and operate two air separation units, two auto thermal reforming units, and a hydrogen production unit within the Uzbekneftegaz facility.
The deal also calls for Air Products to supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and syngas under a long-term, take-or-pay/fixed fee contract to Uzbekneftegaz, while the Uzbek gas company will supply the feedstock natural gas and utilities and offtake all products.
Air Products provided no comment on the likely end-uses of the hydrogen, but it potentially could be used to produce ammonia.