OREANDA-NEWS. April 17, 2009. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the president of the Malaysian corporation Petronas Muhammad Hasan Marikan and the general executive director of Sasol (South African Republic) Pat Davs, reported the Official website gov.uz.

The head of the state said cooperation of Uzbekistan with Petronas and Sasol was developing effectively, which could be proved with successful implementation of joint projects.

Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and Petronas signed a memorandum of cooperation and an agreement on joint exploration of oil and gas reserves during the state visit of Islam Karimov to Malaysia in October 2005.

Currently geological research is being conducted in the Aral Sea area, on the Ustyurt plateau and in Surkhandarya investment blocks.

A feasibility study of the construction of the plant for producing synthetic liquid fuel from purified methane is being developed. The liquid fuel plant will be mainly fitted with the equipment of Sasol. The total volume of investments Petronas is going to invest in Uzbekistan is expected to reach USD 2 billion.

The construction of the plant to produce synthetic fuel in cooperation with Petronas and Sasol will serve to further development of Uzbekistan’s oil and gas industry.