Mott MacDonald Completes Work for Surgil Gas and Petrochemical Complex Project

Mott MacDonald has completed an international environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and environmental and social management plan for the biggest gas and petrochemical project being developed by Uz-Kor Gas Chemical¹ in the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union).

The Surgil Gas and Petrochemical Complex project in Karakalpakstan will include the development of the Surgil gas field and a state-of-the-art gas chemical complex that will produce natural gas and petrochemical products such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) and high density polypropylene (HDPP). The facilities will include new 115km pipelines for gas and condensate. Mott MacDonald has been instrumental in supporting Uz-Kor with meeting international environmental and social requirements as it seeks to obtain financing for this $4.1 billion project from the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and a group of commercial lenders being led by ING. An important part of the ADB project evaluation process is publication of the ESIA package of documents once disclosure has been reached.

Mott MacDonald’s project director David Boyland said: “Achieving disclosure, for the Surgil project is a very important milestone in the process of securing funding for the project. It represents the culmination of an extensive amount of work by Mott MacDonald and Uz-Kor to assess the environmental and social impacts. Most importantly it develops ways to reduce these potential impacts and build in environmental and social enhancements that will bring real benefits to the host region.”

He added: “Through Mott MacDonald’s involvement in this project we have brought about real improvements that will benefit the lives of local people and the environment in which they live.”

The Surgil Project will provide Uzbekistan with new progressive technologies, which will produce valuable export-oriented products. At the same time new employment opportunities will be created in the region.