Türkmənistanda işgüzar səfərdə olan “Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları” QSC-nin (ADY) sədri Rövşən Rüstəmov Aşqabad şəhərində Türkmənistan Dəmir Yolları Agentliyinin sədri Azat Atamuradov və Türkmənistan Dəniz Yolları Agentliyinin yüksək nümayəndə heyəti ilə görüşüb.

Caspian Energy Media Azərbaycan Dəmir Yollarına istinadən xəbər verir ki, iki ölkə arasında dəmir yolu sahəsində əlaqələrin gücləndirilməsi və yük dövriyyəsinin, eyni zamanda Orta Asiya – Avropa – Orta Asiya və Çin – Avropa – Çin istiqamətlərində multimodal yük daşımalarının həcminin artırılması, əməkdaşlıq üçün böyük potensialın olduğu və bu imkanların Avropa bazarında tanıdılmasının vacibliyi geniş müzakirə olunub.

Находящийся в Туркменистане с рабочим визитом председатель ЗАО "Азербайджанские железные дороги" Ровшан Рустамов встретился в Ашхабаде с председателем Агентства железных дорог Туркменистана Азатом Атамурадовым и делегацией агентства морских путей Туркменистана.

Как сообщает Caspian Energy Media со ссылкой на Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları, на встрече обсуждались вопросы укрепления связей между двумя странами в железнодорожной сфере и увеличения грузооборота, а также объемов мультимодальных грузоперевозок по направлениям Центральная Азия-Европа – Центральная Азия и Китай – Европа – Китай, где существует большой потенциал для сотрудничества и важность внедрения этих возможностей на европейском рынке.

В январе-марте 2024 года доходы Азербайджана от магистральных нефтепроводов составили 263 920,2 тыс. манатов, что на 1,3% меньше в годовом сравнении.

Как сообщает Caspian Energy Media со ссылкой на APA, в январе-марте текущего года по магистральным нефтепроводам Азербайджана было транспортировано 9 миллионов 664 тысячи тонн нефти, что на 1,72% больше, чем годом ранее. По нефтепроводу Баку-Тбилиси-Джейхан (БТД) осуществлено 75,2% транспортировки, по этому трубопроводу за отчетный период перекачено 7267,2 тыс. тонн нефти, что на 0,3% больше, чем годом ранее.

Ötən tədris ilində Bakı Şəhəri üzrə Təhsil İdarəsinin (BŞTİ) tabeliyindəki ümumi təhsil müəssisələri üzrə 46 min 736 şagird elektron sistem (sy.edu.az) vasitəsilə bir məktəbdən digərinə köçürülüb.

Caspian Energy Media AZƏRTAC-a istinadən xəbər verir ki, elektron sistem vasitəsilə şagird yerdəyişməsi valideynlərin rahatlığına, prosesin daha şəffaf və operativ həyata keçirilməsinə, əlavə vaxt itkisinin qarşısının alınmasına, ümumi tənzimlənmədə subyektiv amillərin aradan qaldırılmasına imkan verir.

Bu ilin yanvar-mart aylarında Azərbaycanın magistral neft kəmərlərindən gəlirləri 263 920,2 min manat təşkil edib, bu da illik müqayisədə 1,3% azdır.

Caspian Energy Media APA-ya istinadən xəbər verir ki, bu ilin yanvar-mart aylarında Azərbaycanda magistral neft kəmərləri ilə 9 664 min ton neft nəql edilib ki, bu da illik müqayisədə 1,72% çoxdur. Nəqletmənin 75,2%-i Bakı-Tbilisi-Ceyhan neft ixrac kəməri (BTC) ilə həyata keçirilib və hesabat dövründə bu kəmər vasitəsilə 7 267,2 min ton neft ötürülüb ki, bu da illik müqayisədə 0,3% çoxdur.

Dünya birjalarında neft bahalaşıb.

Caspian Energy Media AZƏRTAC-a istinadən xəbər verir ki, Londonun ICE (“InterContinental Exchange Futures”) birjasında “Brent” markalı neftin bir barelinin qiyməti 0,05 dollar artaraq 86,06 dollar olub. Nyu-Yorkun NYMEX (“New York Mercantile Exchange”) birjasında “Light” markalı neftin bir barelinin qiyməti isə 0,06 dollar artaraq 81,69 dollar təşkil edib.

На мировых биржах зафиксирован рост цен на нефть.

Как сообщает Caspian Energy Media со ссылкой на АЗЕРТАДЖ, на лондонской бирже ICE (InterContinental Exchange Futures) баррель нефти марки «Брент» подорожал на 0,05 доллара – до 86,06 доллара. На нью-йоркской NYMEX (New York Merchantile Exchange) стоимость нефти марки «Лайт» увеличилась на 0,06 доллара и составила 81,69 доллара за баррель.

20 сентября этого года Азербайджан отмечает 25 лет со дня подписания «Контракта Века» - одного из важнейших по своему политическому, экономическому и стратегическому значению контрактов в истории Азербайджана после обретения независимости. Этот проект, являющийся основой нефтяной стратегии, открыл новые перспективы для будущего страны и придал мощный импульс для динамичного развития всей экономики Азербайджана. Контракт открыл путь для заключения новых контрактов, повысил уровень доверия к нашему государству, заложил фундамент беспрецедентного экономического роста Азербайджана. Двадцать пять лет очень короткий период для истории, но тем не менее, развитие нашей страны, ее позиция в международном сообществе, влияние в регионе достигли очень высокого уровня. В основе всего этого лежит нефтяная стратегия, архитектором которой стал общенациональный лидер Гейдар Алиев, а залогом эффективной реализации этой стратегии стала политика Президента Ильхама Алиева. Целенаправленная деятельность руководства Азербайджана в энергетическом секторе превратила его в региональный энергетический центр.

Именно подписание “Контракта века” заложило основу всех этих достижений. Предвестником данного знакового события стала международная выставка и конференция Caspian Oil and Gas, идейным вдохновителем которой был также Гейдар Алиев. Согласно его нефтяной стратегии, необходимо было привлечь на Каспий влиятельные мировые компании и обеспечить приток в Азербайджан крупных зарубежных инвестиций, которые способствовали бы укреплению национальной независимости страны, развитию ее экономики. И в мае 1994 года на выставке Caspian Oil and Gas были сделаны к этому первые шаги – на одной площадке в одно время были собраны ключевые игроки нефтяной сферы, которым был продемонстрирован серьезный нефтегазовый потенциал Азербайджана, а они в свою очередь раскрыли перед Азербайджаном весь спектр своих инвестиционных предложений. Вполне возможно, что заключительные этапы переговоров будущих партнеров по “Контракту века” состоялись именно на выставке.

Уже прошло четверть века, а выставка и конференция Caspian Oil and Gas продолжает оставаться эффективной площадкой для презентации богатого нефтегазового и транзитного потенциала Азербайджана, его привлекательности для зарубежных инвесторов, инноваций в мировой энергетике и местом встречи ведущих профессионалов отрасли, где подписываются ключевые соглашения и контракты о дальнейшем сотрудничестве. Ежегодное участие в церемонии открытия Президента Азербайджанской Республики Ильхама Алиева в очередной раз подтверждает высокий статус выставки. За долгие годы успеха на выставку свои приветственные письма отправили президенты США, премьер-министры Великобритании, Турции и других стран. Участники выставки и конференции Caspian Oil and Gas, многие из которых с нами со дня подписания Контракта Века, знают, что каждый год, примерно в то же время, в том же месте они увидят старых друзей и партнеров, сверят часы, обсудят насущные темы отрасли, установят новые контакты.

Напрямую с “Контрактом века” связан и профессиональный праздник нефтяников страны. Но не только с датой, но и с тем, что именно контракт способствовал восстановлению престижа профессии нефтяника. Добыча нефти – это нелегкий, ответственный и почетный труд сотен тысяч людей различных специальностей. Этот торжественный день 20 сентября замечательный повод поздравить тысячи нефтяников Азербайджана, трудящихся на благо отрасли. От имени организационного комитета выставки и конференции Caspian Oil and Gas и от себя лично сердечно поздравляю вас, дорогие нефтяники, с профессиональным праздником и с юбилеем Контракта Века! Вы своим трудом прокладывали путь новой нефтяной эре Азербайджана. Желаем вам здоровья, счастья и благополучия! Особенно хочу поздравить с этой знаменательной датой Министерство Энергетики Азербайджанской Республики, а также руководство и коллектив компании SOCAR! Мы искренне благодарим вас за труд и желаем реализации всех намеченных планов, новых производственных высот во благо и процветание Азербайджана! До новых встреч на выставке и конференции Caspian Oil and Gas 2020.

Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Sultanov, how would you assess the current level and prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in the energy field?

Alisher Sultanov, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is cooperating with the Azerbaijani company SOCAR in two directions: in conduction of geological survey and increase of hydrocarbon production in the fields of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The cooperation on geological survey at the investment blocks of Uzbekistan was established in May 2018 with the signing of the memorandum of understanding. SOCAR together with BP studied the materials about the investment blocks.

Signed in the course of the 23rd International exhibition and conference “Oil and Gas of Uzbekistan OGU – 2019” hosted in Tashkent on May 15-17 was a three sided agreement on assessment of the exploratory potential of three investment blocks in Ustyurt region such as the Uzbek sector of the Aral Sea, Bayterek and Samsk-Kosbulak blocks. The document envisages re-processing of 2D seismic survey data, core and drilling mud analysis, geo-chemical analysis of fluid data (gas, oil, formation waters). It will help to get an exact assessment of the investment blocks’ potential, including the potential of Paleozoic deposits, and facilitate further promotion of geological exploration work in Ustyurt region of the Republic.

Thorough work on analysis of materials has to be carried out, including the organization of work on legal, commercial and technical lines of cooperation. Given a wide work experience of SOCAR and BP, Uzbekneftgaz JSC expects positive results from the joint work in the field of geological exploration.

As far as the second line of cooperation is concerned, following the results of the preliminary work carried out jointly with SOCAR’s subsidiary LLC “NIPI NEFTEGAZ”, signed on May 16, 2019 was an agreement on increase of production at fields of Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan. The agreement envisages ensuring the oil production growth at fields using advanced methods and technologies from SOCAR.

CE: What work is underway within the framework of the agreement on joint development of fields, signed between SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz?

Alisher Sultanov: The joint work with SOCAR over examining the possibility of joint exploration and development of Uzbekistan fields is running on basis of the memorandum of mutual understanding signed on 16 May 2018. As a result of the work carried out, an agreement on increase of production at Garbiy Tashli and Sharkiy Tashli, Shimoliy Shurtan and Garmiston fields in Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan was signed with SOCAR’s subsidiary LLC “NIPI NEFTEGAZ”.

The agreement provides for ensuring oil production growth at fields by using experience and technologies from SOCAR.

At present a group of specialists of Uzbekneftegaz JSC is actively cooperating with the team of LLC “NIPI NEFTEGAZ” in order to determine the scope of works, develop financial-economic model and define terms of further cooperation between the parties.

CE: To what extent is the Southern Gas Corridor promising for transporting natural gas from Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan? To what degree the international transport corridors, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, Baku International Sea Trade Port and others are attractive for transporting Uzbek energy resources?

Alisher Sultanov: Nowadays, transportation of Uzbek gas via the Southern Gas Corridor is not considered due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure. 

CE: Uzbekistan is one of the leading gas exporters. Do you plan to diversify export markets?

Alisher Sultanov: Nowadays Uzbekistan is exporting natural gas to Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Meanwhile, Uzbekneftegaz JSC is facing the task to increase export of value-added products – not the natural gas itself, but products obtained through its deep processing.

In this regard Uzbekneftegaz JSC is attracting leading foreign companies for joint deep processing of gas. For instance, one of the large projects is the construction of the gas-chemical cluster based on MTO technology with a deep processing of 1.6 bcm. The cluster will ensure production of over 1.1 million tonnes of polymer and chemical products per annum, demanded both in the domestic market and external markets.

Considering the implementation of deep gas processing projects, by 2025 the volume of 100% gas monetization in Uzbekistan shall increase from 1.4 up to 6.6bcm per annum. About 40% of produced chemical products will go for export. 

It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan has a high transit potential for transportation of over 100bcm per annum, including 55 bcm along the north route, 50 bcm via the east route and 3.2 bcm along the south route.

CE: What are the top priorities of Uzbekistan in terms of development of the energy sector? Which areas are in need of investments and which projects can be of interest to foreign investors?

Alisher Sultanov: Concrete tasks regarding the development of the fuel-energy sector of the country have been assigned to the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan formed in February 2019. Among them are regulation of the energy sector, implementation of the production sharing agreements and control over their observance, drawing of the private capital into energy resource production and extraction, development of public and private partnership, improvement of the tariff policy so that to assist in forming competitive business environment, increasing and diversifying production of energy resources. The tasks also include an introduction of modern corporate management in the energy sector, including IFIs’ proposals envisaging optimization of production processes. The work over the energy road map which is carried out jointly with the Asia Development Bank and other international financial institutions is about to complete and aims at increasing of generation capacities, upgrading of electricity networks, improvement of  metering and control over electricity consumption. Major focus will be on introduction of renewable sources of energy.

The development of Uzbekistan’s fuel-energy complex strategy for 2020-2030 and a comprehensive program on power industry digitalization for 2019-2021, aimed at automating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition processes, is underway now. The important task facing the Ministry of Energy is to contribute to the comprehensive development of the country’s oil and gas sector, attraction of foreign direct investments into this sector, implementation of promising projects and introduction of innovations.

The oil-gas industry has an important place in the economy of the republic. It is not only energy, but also a key raw material base for producing fuel, petroleum, oil and lubricants, polymers, organic chemical substances, nitrogen mineral fertilizers and others products required for all sectors of economy. Geological exploration is a baseline for increasing the potential of the oil-gas industry. The company is actively working to increase the volume of exploration in the most promising areas with developed infrastructure in the Bukhara-Khivi, Ustyurt, Surkhandarya, Ferghana regions, using internal resources. We are also working with such companies as TOTAL (France), SOCAR (Azerbaijan), British Petroleum (Great Britain), Tatneft (Russia), Mubadala Petroleum (UAE), ONGC Videsh (India), etc., over expansion of geological exploration work on investment blocks that are poorly studied and feature a complex geological structure.

Currently, only 14% of natural gas is deeply processed in the oil and gas industry to produce products with high added value. There are all opportunities to increase this figure several times over the next 10 years. In this regard, JSC Uzbekneftegaz gives priority to implementation of petrochemical projects, which will help by 2030 to generate revenues exceeding those of gas export by 3 times, and increase the total export of the industry to $ 5.5 billion.

CE: Could you please tell about major details of the new long-term investment program on expansion, modernization and diversification of generating capacities for the period up to 2030?

Alisher Sultanov: The development of generating capacities in such areas as thermal power plants (TPPs) and renewable energy sources (RES) with the attraction of foreign direct investments is one of the main priority issues in development of power industry in Uzbekistan. The addressing of issues on implementation of a number of investment projects on basis of the public-private partnership (PPP) is starting nowadays.  The day of investors dedicated to the energy sector is held in Uzbekistan every Wednesday. Proposals of foreign companies are considered at such meetings. Implementation of promising projects is discussed. Prompt decisions on timely solution of existing matters are taken. 

The work on implementation of large investment projects is currently underway to increase generating capacities of the energy system for the period until 2030.  The projects are as follows:

1) construction of energy-efficient thermal generating capacities with a total volume of around 15 GW;

2) construction of modern combined cycle power plants with a total capacity of about 10 GW (at Syrdarya, Navoi, Talimarjan, Takhiatash, Turakurgan TPPs and others);

3) construction of maneuverable generating capacities based on gas reciprocating power units or aviation gas turbine plants with a total capacity of about 1.5 GW (at Syrdarya, Tasjkent TPPs, Musaberek TPP and other regions);

4) construction of power plants using renewable energy sources, bringing the total share of solar and wind power plants to 20%.

5) construction of a hydro power plant with a total capacity of 1.75 GW and a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2.4 GW.

At the same time, by building new and modernizing existing coal power units, it is planned to diversify energy resources and increase the share of coal consumption from 6% to 19%. Apart from this, the Government of Uzbekistan has activated efforts to attract additional foreign investments so that to increase gas production by 17% by 2025.

CE: Which main priorities will underlie the new Concept of development of renewable sources of energy for the period of 2019-2023?

Alisher Sultanov: The main principles of the national policy of Uzbekistan in the field of renewable energy are to strengthen the country’s energy security, diversify the fuel and energy sector in order to increase the specific share of renewable energy, save primary energy resources, improve the ecological situation and meet the growing needs of the population and economy of the country through the introduction of market mechanisms when setting  tariffs for electricity generated out of renewables.

Among the priorities are also the expansion of cooperation with international companies and financial institutes for implementing renewables projects on the public-private partnership principles; training, retraining and skill improvement of national resources in this field. Laws on use of renewable sources of energy and on public-private partnership have been recently passed in Uzbekistan. These laws provide a firm legal framework to develop the renewables sector and attract private investments into the power industry sector of Uzbekistan in order to develop a market of independent power producers (IPP), mainly the generation facilities consuming renewables. Besides, the abovementioned laws define a set of mechanisms on provision of privileges and preferences both for producers of RES equipment and for producers of energy using RES. These significant steps are the result of fulfilling the Uzbekistan Republic President’s orders on the green energy sector development. By 2025 the Strategy for Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019-2021 provides for an increase in the share of electricity production out of renewable and alternative energy sources at a level of at least 20% of the total generation.

Modern Uzbekistan has a significant technical potential in the renewable energy sector. Of this total, solar energy accounts for 176.8 million tonnes of oil equivalent, wind energy accounts for up to 0.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent, biomass accounts for 0.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent and hydropower industry accounts for 2.3 million tonnes of oil equivalent. The resources of rivers flowing through the territory of Uzbekistan, numerous irrigation canals and water reservoirs provide high potential for the construction of small hydropower plants.

To develop renewable sources of energy for the period of 2019-2023 it is planned to introduce innovative technologies and development projects in the field of RES; expand production and localization of RES plants; to get business entities and investors involved in creation of generation capacities based on well-proven technologies of use of  solar, wind, bio-gas and geothermal energy; to cooperate and improve a legal framework in the field of the renewable energy sector development.

CE: What will be the future fate of the joint stock companies Uzbekenergo and Uzbekneftegaz after the restructuring?

Alisher Sultanov: As far as Uzbekenergo JSC is concerned, as a result of its reorganization, three structures have been created in compliance with modern methods of organization of production, transportation, distribution and sale of electricity. They are the Thermal Power Plants JSC, National Electric Networks of Uzbekistan JSC and Regional Electric Networks JSC.

Thermal Power Plants JSC is engaged in managing thermal power plants and electric power stations generating electricity and thermal energy. National Electric Networks of Uzbekistan JSC operates and develops main power transmission lines of the Republic of Uzbekistan, transportation of electricity along main power transmission lines of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as performs an interstate transit, export and import of electricity, and interaction with power industry systems of neighbor countries; a single supervisory control over electricity generating enterprises, including participation of private capital, as well as control over main and regional electrisity networks, functions as a single purchaser of electricity from enterprises producing electricity, as well as sells electricity to enterprises of regional electricity networks. Regional Electric Networks JSC manages enterprises of territorial electric grids distributing and selling electricity to ultimate customers. 

As far as Uzbekneftegaz is concerned, a scaled restructuring of the oil-gas system is planned to be carried out now. As a result, firstly, it is planned to reduce excessive intermediate links in the management system by linking subholding companies to Uzbekneftegaz JSC, except for Uztransgaz JSC which is being withdrawn from the structure of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, and its package of shares owned by the holding will be passed to the state. Secondly, oil and gas production organizations (LLC Mubarekneftegaz, LLC Shurtanneftegaz, LLC Ustyurtgaz, LLC Gazlineftegazdobycha, JSC Andijanneft, JSC Dzharkurganneft) will be transformed into structural divisions of JSC “Uzbekneftegaz” without the formation of a legal entity in order to to establish direct interaction with the production process. Thirdly, reorganization of individual enterprises of the industry is expected in order to streamline the structure of Uzbekneftegaz JSC. Fourthly, the shares of Uzbekneftegaz JSC and organizations operating within it through the authorized capital of service and other non-core organizations are transferred to the State Assets Management Agency for their further sale into private ownership

Thus, structural transformations in the management system of Uzbekneftegaz JSC will allow optimizing excessive production costs of enterprises, reducing the cost of work, increasing the profitability and competitiveness of the industry, improving corporate governance methods based on international experience.

Amid changes in Uzbekneftegaz JSC, it is also planned to introduce a public-private partnership in the gas distribution system.

A task on attraction of foreign funds for projects throughout the whole company has been set. Uzbekneftegaz JSC attracted $ 1.2 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first four months of 2019, which is twice more than the initial target of $550 million.

This is largely due to the fact that JSC Uzbekneftegaz is becoming a step-by-step an increasingly open company.

The plans are to increase gas production from 60bcm of 2018 up to 63.6bcm in 2019 and bring the production up to 70 bcm by 2025.

Thank you for the interview

Caspian Energy (CE): Which major points will be included into the strategy for the development of the transport system of Uzbekistan for the period until 2035?

Achilbay Ramatov, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan: The Ministry of Transport is finalizing its work over the preliminary strategy for the development of the transport system of Uzbekistan for the period until 2035, and the work over the road map on its implementation. The strategy defines key challenges in development of the transport system of the Republic and ways of their solution. The challenges are as follows: institutional, legislative, social, ecological, logistical, staffing, safety, poor quality of transport services, etc.

The following measures have been defined to address the challenges: to improve efficiency of institutes shaping and implementing a single national transport policy; to ensure quality and availability of transport services for the population; to deliver on the transport-transit potential through an advanced development of efficient transport and logistics infrastructure, active engagement in the international transport corridors; to ensure high security of transport system; to ensure environmental compatibility of transport and provide conditions for the green transport development; to increase the share of innovations in the transport system, accelerated digitalization of the transport sector, etc.

Moreover, the project of the Strategy envisages a basic and innovative approach of development of the transport system for the period until 2035.

CE: Which measures will be taken to improve the country’s position in the international ratings assessing the logistics efficiency?

Achilbay Ramatov:  First of all, it is important to shorten the time it takes to pass customs procedures at crossing points of the state borders of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to improve the motor road infrastructure; raise competence of national carriers in terms of quality of service provision to the population and business;  improve railway and aviation infrastructure; assist business, tourism and population in getting qualitative and operational transport services; attract direct investments and financial instruments of international financial institutions and private capital to develop the logistics industry and create modern multimodal logistics parks and industrial zones within the republic; establish constructive cooperation and exchange experience with leading foreign transport-logistics and industrial companies; deliver freights on time set by consignors.

CE: Which large infrastructure projects to be implemented soon in the transport-logistics field of Uzbekistan could you note?

Achilbay Ramatov:  Noteworthy is the implementation of projects (including on public-private partnership conditions) on construction of 9 modern customs terminals at surrounding areas of the border customs posts in 2019-2021, as well as implementation of projects on construction and reconstruction of 61 bus stations and bus terminals in 2019-2021.

Among the projects is also the construction of Tashkent-Samarkand and Tashkent-Andijan toll roads, modernization of international airports in Tashkent and regions of the republic,  implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project and the Mazari-Sharif - Gerat and Mazari-Sharif - Kabul-Peshavar railway construction projects.

CE: Which measures are taken in Uzbekistan in the field of air transport arteries in order to develop regional transport and attract tourists?

Achilbay Ramatov: At present, the leadership and the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan are taking drastic measures to improve civil aviation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, aimed at meeting citizens’ needs in air transportation, ensuring high level of service to passengers in the airports and providing necessary comfortable conditions for them. Implemented were infrastructure projects on reconstruction of airports, air-strips, construction of passenger terminals which helped to bring all airports of the country to conformity with international standards of ICAO, raise the security of flights and service quality.

Passenger terminals were built at Tashkent, Bukhara, Urgench, Fergana and Navoi airports. An arrival terminal with the capacity of up to 1,200 passengers per hour was launched in the capital for international flights. The Nukus terminal is capable of receiving 400 passengers per hour. A new passenger terminal with the capacity of up to 400 passengers per hour was opened at the Termez international airport. 

A number of other projects aimed at reconstruction and modernization of infrastructure at the republic’s airports is planned to be implemented in the medium term.

New regular flights have been opened in terms of the extension of the geographic reach of flights. Flights to Mumbai, Vladivostok, Jidda and Jakarta have been launched. The issue of opening flights in the direction of Tbilisi, Munich and Karachi is worked on. The frequency of international flights has significantly increased. For instance, the number of one of the most in-demand Tashkent-Moscow flights reached up to 21 flights per week. Together with flights made to the capital of Russia from Samarkand, Bukhara, Urganch, Termez, Namangan and Fergona this indicator reached 49. The frequency of flights from Tashkent to Seoul, Dushanbe, Bishkek, Minsk, Rostov-on- the Don, Astana and Novossibirsk has increased as well. 14 flights from the capital and 3 flights from Samarkand are made every week to Istanbul, one of the most popular directions.

To ensure favorable conditions for an operation of additional companies in the air transportation market, including low-cost carriers (lowcosters) and companies providing services to business aviation, steps are taken to attract direct foreign investments to improve infrastructure of airports, including the use of mechanisms of the public-private partnership  and cooperation with leading international companies in the field of airports management. Apart from this, the project of the concept of the Central Asian hub is being developed and aimed at step-by-step creation of the center service for transfer flows between the South-East Asian, South Asian, CIS and European points.

Taking of these measures will reduce expenditures of air companies and optimize air ticket prices for consumers, as well as increase the number of routes and flights performed in international and domestic directions, which it turn will positively contribute to the development of tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

CE: What could you say about the cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of civil aviation?

Achilbay Ramatov: The Uzbek-Azerbaijani relationship in the field of civil aviation is regulated by the agreement on air traffic and cooperation in the field of air transport reached between the governments of the Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan republics on 02.11.1996, as well as by memoranda and consultation protocols signed between aviation authorities of the two countries. Aviation authorities, as well as air companies appointed from both countries, are regularly holding bilateral consultations to develop the civil aviation cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. The aviation authorities of both countries held negotiations within the framework of the meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission for cooperation between the Republics of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Discussed in the course of these negotiations were issues of liberalization of the air transport markets, prospects of further cooperation of the two countries in the field of civil aviation, consideration and signing of the aviation agreement projects. According to the results of negotiations, signed was a memorandum of understanding providing the appointed air companies of both countries a right to perform regular passenger flights with a frequency of 14 times per week from each side and regular limitless cargo flights in directions given in the supplement to the agreement. 

Formerly appointed carriers of the two countries had a right for performing regular passenger flights with a frequency of 7 times a week.

At present, regular passenger flights from Uzbekistan are performed by “O‘zbekiston Havo Yo‘llari” Air Company with a frequency of 3 times a week, and the flights from Azerbaijan are performed twice a week by Azerbaijan Airlines.

CE:  Which prospects do you see for Uzbekistan’s participation in international transport corridors such as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, North-South, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars?

Achilbay Ramatov: Georgraphic location specifics of Uzbekistan will let it become one of the key transit hubs of Central Asia and source of getting long-term dividends from transit transportation within the framework of trade-economic relations of Central Asian countries with Turkey, European Union, Russia, Afghanistan and countries of the Persian Gulf. Depending on the transport corridors to be chosen by the European and Central Asian consignors, the below given corridors of TRACECA  will be used: 1)  rail and road routes Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan-Caspian Sea-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Black Sea region or Georgia-Turkey-European Union;

2) rail and road routes Kyrgyzstan – Turkmenistan - Caspian Sea – Azerbaijan – Georgia - Black Sea region or Georgia-Turkey-European Union.

Uzbekistan’s getting dividends from trade operations and cargo transportation is possible in future at flexible and prompt response to transport and tariff policy of the European Union, at further expansion of economic and logistical cooperation of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan with the European Union by means of value chains oriented at export/import via Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s strategic interest in regard to the North-South international transport corridor lies mainly in general growth of interest of leading Eurasian economies in use of land corridors. If the countries-participants of the above mentioned North-South ITC manage to establish a scheme of stable, quick and cheap transportation of freights, then one of the results can be the growth of the Indian business’ interest in Central Asia, which in turn can yield dividends to Uzbekistan, including in terms of transit freight transportation.

If the operation quality of this corridor gets higher, another potential source of dividends can arise from the growth of interest of the South-East Asia countries and China (coastal economic centers in the East of the country) which can use the corridor as an option for redirecting a part of maritime freight transportation from the Suez channel. This in turn will be one of the reasons for the growth of South-East Asian exporters’ interest in Central Asian markets, especially in Uzbekistan.

CE: In your opinion, which substantial changes shall a new project of the law on transport bring into the transport industry of the country?

Achilbay Ramatov: Today there are certain legislative acts regulating the transport. These are the Uzbekistan Republic’s laws on the road transport, on railway transport, air code and many other legislative acts. But there is no single Law which would ensure optimal and balanced harmonious interaction of different types of transport.

The Ministry of Transport has started working out the draft of the law since February 2019. The draft law envisages the following important standards: regulating the development of intermodal, multimodal, mixed transportation, hub-based transportation technologies; setting of concrete requirements to transport organizations engaged in performance of mixed carriages, as well as to transport and other technical facilities used when making such types of transportation; issues of arranging mixed traffic, their basis, agreements, cost clearing, forms of single consignment vouchers (single bill of lading), responsibility, claims, etc. Moreover, the law will envisage definition of major principles of transport logistics such as: legality; focus on customer needs; security; safety; unity of procedures; equal access.

It is expected to set rules regulating transport safety, train skilled human resources for preventing terrorism in transport, organize an operation of transport facilities in emergency situations, ensure safety and environmental regulation in transport, etc. All of it will promote the creation of the legal framework ensuring real protection of national interests of Uzbekistan in the global market of transport services.

In general, adoption of the draft law on transport shall ensure harmonic development of all types of transport, mobility of population and availability of transportation services, safety and environmental friendliness of the transportation system of the republic.

Thank you for the interview