Saneg to develop shale deposits in Surkhandarya

Saneg began developing the Baysun oil shale deposit in the Surkhandarya region, the company’s press service reported.

The project for the development of shale ore in the Baysun district was presented to Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a trip on November 16. According to the results of geological exploration, the deposit’s reserves are estimated at 55 million tons of shale ore of category C1.

The study of the geological structure, depth and area of distribution of shale continues at the site. Azizbek Nazarov, Saneg’s deputy head for development of strategic projects, noted that the deposit’s reserves could reach 400 million tons.

The company will organize ore processing to generate electricity and produce synthetic oil and gas. It is expected that the project will expand the energy resource base of Uzbekistan and contribute to the economic development of Surkhandarya.

By the end of 2024, it is planned to launch four units using circulating fluidized bed technology (TsKS-1500). Each of them will be able to process up to 1.5 million tons of shale ore per year to produce 800 thousand tons of oil, 300 million cubic meters. m of gas and 150 MW of electricity.

In the next five years, Saneg expects to increase the number of TsKS-1500 units to 25. They will be able to process up to 37.5 million tons of raw materials annually.

“Large reserves of this mineral in Uzbekistan open up new opportunities for the introduction of modern technologies in geological exploration, production and processing of oil shale,” Nazarov said.