Page 563 – The Times Of Central Asia

13 Jan 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Features, Uzbekistan Home, Features, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Uzbek Footballer Abdukodir Khusanov to Sign for Manchester City

January 15, 2025
By Jonathan Campion

When the English champions Manchester City suffered a shock run of losses recently, soccer fans began guessing what moves coach Pep Guardiola would make to stop their winter slump. No-one expected him to call for a defender from Uzbekistan.

Abdukodir Khusanov, still only 20 but already with 18 appearances for the White Wolves, is set to become Guardiola’s first signing of 2025. On 11 January the tall center-back agreed to join City in a €40 million ($41 million) transfer from the French team RC Lens. Once the move is complete, Khusanov is expected to sign a contract for four and a half years,

Manchester City have won five of the last six Premier League titles. They were European club champions in 2023 after winning a first UEFA Champions League.

With Europe’s giants very rarely looking to Asia for their next young star, Khusanov has taken an unconventional route to the Etihad Stadium. He began his career in the youth team of local side Bunyodkor, before moving to Belarus in 2022, at the age of 18, to play for Energetik-BGU Minsk.

In 2023 Khusanov was part of the Uzbekistan youth team that won the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup. There his confident passing and physicality caught the attention of RC Lens. He became a fan favorite in northern France, and the youngest Uzbek to play in the Champions League.

Conor Bowers, a British fan of Uzbek soccer, has followed Khusanov’s career closely, and mentions that the €40 million man once struggled even to make teams in his homeland. “Although he is now over six feet tall, his youth coaches thought he would be too small to make it professionally. And that was even as a child, when he played as a striker.”

Of his season in France, Bowers adds: “People had high hopes for Khusanov, but no-one expected him to move to a club the size of Manchester City this fast. People feel it will put Uzbekistan in the spotlight of the football world.”

It was his strong performances in the French league that put Khusanov on the radar of Europe’s best clubs – Manchester City beat other English teams to his signature – but the defender is also vital to his national team. With the striker Eldor Shomurodov (of Roma in Italy) leading the attack, and Khusanov the team’s rock in defense, Uzbekistan has become Central Asia’s most accomplished side. The senior team is on course to qualify for next year’s men’s FIFA World Cup in North America.

Khusanov will be the first footballer from anywhere in Central Asia to play in the English Premier League. However, he is not the first player born in Tashkent to grace the so-called “best league in the world”. The Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie spent his early childhood in Uzbekistan’s capital, before playing in the EPL for West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

As news of Khusanov’s move to Manchester swept across Uzbek media over the weekend, sports fans were excited by the prospect of one of their footballers playing under the legendary coach, Guardiola. “It’s a big thing for us to get to see one of our young players winding up at Pep’s team”, says Donat Iskanderoff, an Uzbek sports journalist.

Iskanderoff adds: “One fact people might not know is that his father [Hikmat Hashimov] used to play football as well, for Metallurg Bekabad [and the Uzbek national team]. But Abdukodir plays under a different surname – the father wanted to take pressure off his son.”

Salvaging Manchester City’s season while taking his nation towards a first World Cup, Abdukodir Khusanov will have no way of escaping the pressure now. But whether or not he is a success in England, the impressive young defender will have the whole of Uzbekistan behind him.

10 Jan 2025

Home, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

KazMunayGaz Looking to Buy Another European Oil Refinery

January 14, 2025
By Bruce Pannier

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGaz (KMG) is seeking to acquire an oil refinery in Bulgaria from Russia’s LUKoil at a bargain price. The purchase of Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, the largest oil refinery in the Balkans, would, according to some media sources, more than double [KMG’s] European refining capacity.” KMG reported a bid of $1 billion for the refinery, which one outlet stated “seems small.”

Pressured Out

The Burgas refinery was built in the early 1960s and “joined the LUKoil Group” in 1999. The European Union decision to impose a ban on Russian oil imports after the Kremlin launched its full-scale war on Ukraine deprived Lukoil Nefthohim Burgas of its major source of crude oil.

According to a Financial Times report from November 2024, the Bulgarian government pressured LUKoil to sell the refinery, hitting the Russian company “with a 60% tax on profits in an effort to force out its owners” and prohibiting the “export of Russian crude-based products from Lukoil Neftohim Burgas.” In turn, LUKoil complained about “discriminatory laws and other unfair, biased political decisions toward the refinery.”

KMG reportedly lost interest in the refinery in late 2024, but BNN Bloomberg reported on January 7 that the Kazakh company was still among the bidders for the Bulgarian refinery.

Advantage KMG

When the EU banned Russian oil imports, Lukoil Nefthohim Burgas compensated by purchasing oil from Kazakhstan and the Middle East.

If KMG buys the Bulgarian refinery, presumably most or all of the crude processed there will come from Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan exported some 70.5 million tons of oil in 2023, and expects figures will be slightly less in 2024, some 68.8 million tons, due to maintenance at the Tengiz and Kashagan fields.

Some 80% of those oil exports are shipped from Kazakhstan through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline to Russia’s Black Sea port at Novorossiysk.

Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU purchased about 50% of the Kazakh oil shipped through the CPC pipeline, but that amount has risen to 80% since the ban on Russian oil imports was imposed.

Kazakhstan is also increasing the amount of oil it exports through Azerbaijan to Georgia’s Black Sea port at Batumi, where KMG subsidiary KazTransOil owns the oil terminal. Kazakhstan has a deal to ship 1.5 million tons of oil annually through Azerbaijan, but Kazakh Energy Minister Abdusalam Satkaliyev said in November 2024 that his country was looking to boost that to 20 million tons.

Kazakhstan currently has two Aframax-class oil tankers (deadweight 80,000 tons each) operating in the Black Sea, but plans to bring this number to 12 during the coming years.

The Lukoil Nefthohim Burgas refinery has a capacity to process some seven tons of oil annually.

KMG International already owns two oil refineries in Romania. The Petromidia refinery, with an annual capacity of some five million tons, is located 20 kilometers from the Black Sea port city of Constanta, and the much smaller and older Vega refinery, north of Bucharest, with an annual capacity of some 350,000 tons.

A Great Deal

KMG’s $1 billion bid for the Lukoil Nefthohim Burgas is attracting attention.

The Bulgarian oil refinery completed $1.5 billion in upgrades in 2015.

BNN Bloomberg quoted senior oil and gas analyst Jonathan Lamb of the Wood & Company Financial Services as saying KMG’s $1 billion bid “looks cheap.”

The need for LUKoil to sell the refinery is obvious, but Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and Turkish oil company Opet also submitted bids for the Bulgarian refinery, and “at least half a dozen groups have expressed interest in buying” Lukoil Nefthohim Burgas.

Kazakhstan is discussing financing for the purchase of the Bulgarian refinery with the Swiss-based company Vitol, which has been called the “king of oil in Kazakhstan” and is connected to Temir Kulibayev, the son-in-law of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Kulibayev is not directly connected to LUKoil, but he did serve on the board of directors at Russian gas giant Gazprom from 2011 to 2022 and has been linked to state-owned energy companies in Kazakhstan.

A condition of the refinery’s sale is that the money will not be transferred to Russia, so the sale and payment will be watched closely by the Bulgarian government and the EU.

From the Ground to the Petrol Pumps

Kazakhstan is already working to control its oil exports, from extraction in Kazakhstan’s oil fields to its transportation and processing into a finished product available for sale as filling stations abroad.

If KMG does indeed acquire the oil refinery in Bulgaria, it would give the Kazakh company the ability to process more than 12 million tons of oil at refineries in Europe.

The EU ban on Russian oil imports provides Kazakhstan with an excellent opportunity to increase its share of the oil and gasoline markets in Europe.

10 Jan 2025

Cultural Heritage, Environment, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Environment

U.S. Magazine Highlights French Cave Explorers’ Discoveries in Koytendag, Turkmenistan

January 10, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

The December 2024 issue of NSS News, a U.S. magazine, featured an in-depth report on the spring expedition of French speleologists to Koytendag, Turkmenistan.

The expedition brought together 17 specialists in topography, photogrammetry, biospeleology, geology, and karstology. Their primary objectives were to document existing cave systems, create updated maps, and identify unexplored caves. Over 21 days, the team surveyed approximately 19 kilometers of caves, conducted over 8,500 topographic measurements, and refined maps created by Russian researchers.

A major focus of the expedition was 3D photogrammetric modeling of the Geophysical (Gulshirin) Cave, renowned for its stunning gypsum formations. Using a Disto X laser rangefinder and the Topodroid app, the researchers enhanced mapping accuracy and created a digital replica of the cave. This cutting-edge model serves both scientific and educational purposes.

“We took more than 50,000 photos in four days, allowing us to produce a highly accurate 3D model,” one expedition participant explained. “This technology not only reveals the cave’s internal structure and unique gypsum formations but also offers an immersive viewing experience.”

The team also explored the northwestern part of the massif, identifying small gypsum systems and passages several tens of meters in length. To the east, near the snowy peak of Airybaba at an altitude of 2,400 meters, they discovered a cave marked on their maps. However, adverse weather conditions delayed a full survey of the site.

Despite challenges in accessing some areas, the expedition yielded significant results. Koytendag reaffirmed its reputation as a geologically and biospeleologically rich region.

The expedition’s findings were presented at a conference held at the French Institute in Ashgabat. Koytendag’s unique caves remain an untapped treasure, holding immense potential for advancing scientific and ecological understanding.

10 Jan 2025

Home, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Strengthens Locust Control to Protect Agricultural Crops

June 2, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan plans to double its machinery and equipment for combating locust infestations during the 2025 growing season. The expansion of locust control measures and preparations for spring fieldwork were key topics discussed at a government meeting on January 9.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ermek Kenzhekhanuly reported that 247 pieces of equipment were deployed for chemical field treatments in 2024. This number will rise to 443 in 2025, including 46 agro drones and 7 monitoring drones newly acquired by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Enhanced Strategies and Subsidies

Building on a successful pilot project in the Turkestan region last spring, the Ministry has adopted centralized services for the purchase, transport, and storage of pesticides and field treatment. The program tested agro drones for spraying fields and operated under a unified “one supplier – all work” principle.

To further support farmers and service providers, the government will reimburse 25% of the cost of wheeled spraying machinery and agro drones, making these technologies more accessible.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin emphasized the need to restructure sown areas, reducing wheat cultivation in favor of oilseed and other high-margin crops.

Results and Regional Cooperation

Kazakhstan’s locust control measures proved effective in 2024, with over 3.1 million hectares treated – 23% more than the planned 2.5 million hectares. This protected agricultural crops from significant damage by grasshopper swarms.

Locust infestations in Kazakhstan have escalated in recent years, affecting 514,000 hectares in 2020 and rising to 1.6 million hectares by 2023. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, locust outbreaks threaten agriculture across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, endangering over 25 million hectares of farmland and impacting approximately 20 million people.

To address the issue, Kazakhstan continues close cooperation with neighboring countries, including Russia, to monitor and mitigate the potential spread of locusts.

10 Jan 2025

Life & Culture, Cultural Heritage, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Uzbekistan Receives Historic Manuscript Copies from Malaysia

January 10, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage will soon be added to with facsimile copies of ancient manuscripts provided by Malaysia. This initiative is part of a collaboration between the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and Malaysia’s International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization.

During a recent visit to Malaysia by an Uzbek delegation, the Center’s Director, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, received copies of two invaluable works: Abu Rayhan Beruni’s At-Tafhim and Abulkasim Firdavsi’s Shahnameh, both transcribed during the Timurid era.

Abdukhalikov believes this initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote humanitarian values and preserve Uzbekistan’s historical heritage. “The copies of manuscripts received today will further enrich the exposition of our center,” he stated.

Beruni’s At-Tafhim, originally transcribed in 1197, holds immense significance for world science. Meanwhile, the Timurid-era transcription of Firdavsi’s Shahnameh, produced in the 15th century, reflects the traditions of book printing from that period and showcases the distinctive features of Kamoliddin Behzod’s renowned school of miniature painting.

These manuscripts will be displayed at the Center for Islamic Civilization, which was established eight years ago to celebrate the contributions of Uzbek scholars to global civilization and to preserve the nation’s rich cultural legacy.

10 Jan 2025

Central Asia, Justice, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Justice

Uzbekistan Adds to List of Banned Extremist Content

January 10, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has significantly expanded its list of materials classified as extremist, terrorist, or fanatical, prohibiting their import, production, distribution, and display within the country.

Compared to last year’s version, which included over 800 items, the updated list now features 1,389 banned materials in audio, video, and text formats. The list has grown considerably across social media platforms:

203 Facebook pages (up from approximately 150);
713 Telegram channels (almost doubling from 400);
226 Instagram accounts (previously around 100);
135 YouTube channels;
35 Odnoklassniki pages;
44 TikTok pages;
13 websites; and 20 other sources.

The identification of these materials is a joint effort by the Committee on Religious Affairs, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Agency for Information and Mass Communications.

Legal Framework

Under Uzbekistan’s Law on Countering Extremism, the distribution, storage, or demonstration of such materials is strictly prohibited, and access to them must be restricted. Violations of these provisions may result in criminal liability under the nation’s Criminal Code, as they pose a threat to public security and order.

Historical Context

Uzbekistan has steadily tightened its measures to combat extremist content. In 2018, the government adopted a decree allowing the blocking of media outlets that “promote extremist, propaganda, or hateful content on the Internet”. The following year, the Ministry of Justice published a list of 40 information resources identified as extremist. Subsequent updates to the list have reflected the government’s evolving focus on countering online extremism.